THE NEW ORDER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17284, 27 September 1916, Page 8

THE NEW ORDER.

MEN SIGNED ON IMMEDIATELY

' Tho new recruiting methods aro more business-like than tho old. Whereas before a man could, on the spur ot a patriotic impulse, rush in to the recruiting office and "enlist," and then rush out, and forget all about the responsibilities ho had engaged to undertake, ho will now be held to his engagement by being formally attested at tho time of his enlistment, thereby coming under military control, and being subject to tho penalties awaiting deserters. Any obviously "unfit" man now offering his servic3s will be politely declined, thus saving not only his time, but the time of the recruiting authorities also. A man who appears to have a chance of passing the doctor will be sirmed on, and then will bo immediately medically examined. If ho i.s passed'as fit he will .be attested at the recruiting office, and given five shillings as an allowance for his expenses. Even if a man is rejected as unfit ho will get his five shillings. No men will bo allowed to choose dofinitclv the branch of military scrvico ho will join, although as far as practic able a man's wishes to join any particular branch will be considered, his chanc. being improved if he has any special qualifications for the particular branch The intending recruit should bowel oostcd in his family history, as the fol lowing are some of tho questions thev' will bo put to him—

What aro the names of your father and mother? Where were your father and motner born? , . . If your parents arc of alier. origin, where and when were they naturalised? How long have your father ane mother been resident in New Zeeland? A sucply of tho new attestation form arrived yesterday and notices wore sent out'to about fifty men to attend to be attested. A MISUNDERSTANDING. G Tying to a misunderstanding regarding a statement made by an officer othe recruiting office in connection witl. tho hitch caused by tho non-arriva'- ol the now forms on Monday, it was reported yesterday that enlistments haa not been accepted during tho day, and that applicants were told to call again. It is stated now authoritatively that applicants' names were registered in the usual way, but that they were asked to call later for medical examination and attestation. Medical examinations were resumed yesterday, and will be continued steadily day by day in tho future.

INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC. \ reporter last evening had a short interview with Colonel Chaffey. Officer Commanding tho Canterbury Military district, in connection with tho new regulations forbidding tho publication of certain information regarding recruiting in the newspapers. Colonel Cbafiey said that the prohibition definitely applied to publication of the quota required by the Government from each district, and to information regarding the filling up of that quota. Whether a shortage or a surplus existed, the tact must n6t be disclosed by tho Department's officers to Press representatives. Colonel Chafi'ey added that ho had no information from headquarters regardin"- the reason for this regulation, ana he wordd not commit himself by makin"- o-uesses on the subject. Information "regarding the reasons for orders must be sought from the Minister of Defence.

THE FIVE SHILLINGS PAYMENT.

Colonel Chaffey. in answer to questions regarding the new procedure ot enlistment, said that, according to his reading of the Act, any man who was accepted for enlistment and sent forward for medical examination was entitled to a payment of five shillings. This was not to be regarded as the equivalent of "tho King's shilling, but was payment for loss of timo involved in enlistment and examination. The recruit would get the five shillings whether ho passed the medical examination or not. If he pussed the medical examination, he wculd bo sworn in. If he did not pass, the fact would not exempt him from a further medical examination if he were called up by ballot under the compulsory clauses of the Military Service Act.