GENERAL RESERVE

Evening Star, Issue 23650, 9 August 1940, Page 4

GENERAL RESERVE

EMM.MENT OF FIRST DIVISION UNMARRIED MEN 19 TO 45 PENALTY FOR NON-REGISTRATION [Pee United I’Krss Association.] WELLINGTON. August 8. The Minister of National Service (Mr Semple) to-day issued a statement regarding the effect of a proclamation made by the Governor-General (Viscount Galway) directing the enrolment of the first divisions of the General l‘eaerre created under the National Service Emergency Regulations, 1940. This proclamation was issued to-day in an ‘Extraordinary Gazette.’

The Minister said that this division of the reserve consists entirely of unmarried men, aged 19 to 45 (both inclusive), who are natural-boni British subjects (other than Maoris), and it is subdivided into the following three classes:—•

Class A.—Those aged 21 to 40 years (both inclusive). Class B. —Those aged 19 and 20 years. Class C.—Those aged 41 to 45 years (both inclusive).

Natives within the meaning of the Native Land Act, 1931, that is. Maoris of half-blood or over, are not included in the first division of the reserve.

The first step was the compilation of a register of all reservists coming withing the enrolled classes, and for this purpose the information supplied for purposes of the social security register are being utilised. The next step will be the preparation and despatch of certificates of enrolment to the reservists concerned. Naturally, a certificate can be prepared only for those who have registered, and. if there are persons who have not done so they should obtain. a national service registration form from the nearest Post Office, and after completion forward it at once to the Director of National Service, Wellington. ONUS ON RESERVIST. The onus for obtaining a certificate of enrolment rests with the reservist, and. if such a certificate is not received before September 5, an application for it should be made by letter to the director. Any reservist of an enrolled class who has not received his certificate within 28 days and who then fails to apply for it may be prosecuted for committing an offence against the regulations and may, on conviction, be immediately called up for service without participating in the ballot. A point to be noted particularly is that, the certificates will be, issued only to the reservists of the first division—that is, to single men aged 19 to 45 inclusive. It will, of course, be necessary to amend the register from time to time by removing from it the names of reservists who may die or who may he accepted for service overseas - with the armed forces or who reach the age of 46 years. On the hand, the register will he added to ~by the insertion of the names of reservists who attain the age of 19 or who become resident in New Zealand.

Reservists who have changed their residential addresses between the time when they registered and the date of the proclamation must notify the fact forthwith by registered letter (which is post free) to the Director of National Service, and anv who subsequently change iheir addresses must send a similar notification -within seven days of the change. It is most important that the director should at all times be in. possession of the current addresses of reservists, so that certificates of'enrolment may be delivered without delay.

EMPLOYERS’ RESPONSIBILITY. ."•nee employers are forbidden to employ any person eligible for thfe first division who has not enrolled, the necessity for possession of a certificate will be obvious from the point of view of both the employer and employee. -

The procedure outlined will result‘in the register being 'kept as up to date as is practicable, sn that it will be ready at short notice for the taking of a ballot for the selection of reemits for the armed forces when the necessity arises, and in their ow.n interests to avoid a penalty and in the interests of New Zealand’s war effort all persons concerned are urged to make sure that they are enrolled and that they receive their certificates of registration.