MILITARY SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 16196, 18 August 1916, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE

THE NEW ACT

HOW IT IS TO BE AD-

MINISTERED

We have received the following communication from the Prime Minister:

•„ U J ht V? Service Act provides for both cirll and military processes, and in the circmiißtnncos Cabinet has deemed it desirable tuot there should be a uniform controlling authority. The administration of the Act? tiiererore, so far as it concerns all matters in respect to which the statute does not give a specmc direct ion, has been placed under the control of the Recruiting Board. » I have now to announce that it has been decided to proclaim the enrolment of the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve on Friday, Ist September, 1916, and of tho Second Division on the day following —namely, Saturday, the 2nd September, 191b. In the case of each division a period of 14 days thereafter is allowed by the Art to all men of military age (not less than 20 and under 46 years of age) who have not registered under the National Registration Act to enrol under the Military Service Act, or (o men who have changed their place of abode since registration to notify their new address. It has been found necessary to proclaim the enrolment of both divisions of tho Reserve simultaneously, in order to protect the men in the Second Division. The Act empowers any constable, after the. enrolment of tho First Division has been proclaimed, to question any man who may reasonably be supposed to be of military age, and to detain him if he is not satisfied Willi his answers. The Act also forbids any employer to employ a reservist who is not enrolled. For the protection of reservists, certificates of enrolment will be issued on application to every man who is enrolled, and the production of this certificate will be a sufficient answer to any constable and a. sufficient proof to any employer of enrolment; but this certificate cannot be issued to a man who belongs to (he Second Division until the enrolment of that division is proclaimed, hence the necessity to proclaim both divisions, so that every man of military age may receive this evidence of his enrolment. It should be distinctly understood that, while the compulsory provisions of the Act be applied to the Second Division of the Reserve until the First Division is exhausted, that fact does not relieve any mnn of military age in either division of his obligation with respect to enrolment or notifying any change of address. The First Division consists of reservists who are unmarried men or married men whose marriage took place since the Ist May, 1915 unless they have a child under 16 years of age by a previous marriage or are widowers with no children under 16, or men who are divorced or judicially separated from their wives and who have no children under 16 years of age.

The Second Division consists of all other reservists.

During this enrolment period the widest publicity will he given to the obligations imposed by the Ant on reservists and employers by means of advertisements in all newspapers, and by posters, placards, and lantern slides conspicuously displayed from end to end of the Dominion. The display of these posters, placards, and slides will be made compulsory, as a war necessity, by regulations to be issued under the War Regulations Act.

The Board also intend to issue a statement clearly setting forth the provisions of the Act with respect to tho duties of reservists and of employers, and the penalties they will incur if they neglect or refuse to discharge these duties. Every man of military age should make it his particular business to carefully read thin statement, as well as the advertisements on posters and placards, which will appear on Friday, the Ist September next, and subsequently during tho enrolments period. The Act has two main functions—(a) the enrolment of the Reserve and (b) the calling up of the Reserve. It is proposed to enrol the Reserve within the period stated, but there will be no calling up under the Act so long as voluntary recruiting produces the number of men required for each reinforcement draft.