HALT!

Grey River Argus, 13 February 1915, Page 7

HALT!

NEW RECRUITING SYSTEM

POSTERS AND CARDS

The new system of registration of applicants for service in the Reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is to be brought into action immediately The necessary posters and cards are now being distributed and it will no longer be necessary for recruits to seek out the various defence officers to hand in their names. Cards will be available at every Post Office in the Dominion, where they may be obtained by applicants, filled in, and posted (free of charge) to the nearest recruiting officer. Conspicuous posters will be displayed at all post offices and other public places. The poster is addressed to' 'The manhood of New Zealand between the ages of 20 and 40 years," and is headed by the word "HALT!" in bold, red type.. The poster proceeds: — "Your Empire calls you and England expects — ! In order to maintain a regu lar supply of reinforcements for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force every man of the required age who is a British subject, and is medically fit, owes a duty to his Empire. Register your name as a recruit to serve your King and Country. Due to the patriotism of your forefathers, England is to day able to assert the principle of justice and right. Are you, by your neglect, going to deprive our Empire of this privilege and power?" The poster then sets out the rates of pay under which recruits will serve, and sets out the various qualifications necessary in the way of height, weight, age, and medical fitness. Full instructions as to the method of application are also given. Thei*e is a special injunction to applicants not to give up work until they are ordered to do so. The poster concludes — "Don't feel for the rest of your life you shirked your duty when your Empire's existence depended on your help! " The process of registration and enlistment is very simple. On application at any post office or defence office the recruit will receive a printed card forf ill ing in. He is obliged to give full particulars of his name, age, occupation, state (married or single), previous military experience, number of days' notice required to arrange private affairs if accepted, etc. Receipt of this card will be acknowledged by the recruiting officer, the acknowledgement containing a further warning to the applicant not to give up his civil employment. Later ou a further notice will be sent to tlie recruit informing him when he is required to attend for medical examination. Should the recruit be passed as fit he will then be notified of the date of his departure for Trentham, and a warning is added that should he fail to attend at the time ordered he will require to notify the Defence Officer at once; otherwise his name will be struck off the list of those offering for service. Of course in Such a case there is nothing to prevent the applicant from volunteering again. A set of books based on the information conveyed on the cards is sent to every De fence Office, so that a complete record is kept of every application. It is hoped that the new system will work more smoothly than that which has so far been in force and, further, that it will attract recruits from districts some distance away from the Defence Offices.