SECOND DIVISION RESERVISTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1015, 7 November 1917, Page 5

SECOND DIVISION RESERVISTS.

STATEMENT BY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN. (Pub Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 7. With reference to the inclusion of a number of Second Division Reservists with children in yesterday's Gazette, tho Government Statistician explains that this is duo to tho failure of the reservists to notify him of tho status of their dependents. Many reservists under national registration notified the number of their dependents without station or relationship. The classification of tho Second Division being according to the number of childron only, tho Statistician, wherever possible, notified reservists of cases in which he was in doubt, and 5000 men, in consequence of their replies, were lifted out of Class A to later classes. Some men, however, did not reply or had moved without notifying their change of address, though bound to do so. Being directed by the Military Service Act to place men in whose casos he was in doubt in the earliest class, tho Statistician accordingly left such men in Class A aiid they were drawn in common with others. The fault, was their own for not stating tho relationship of their dependents clearly. The Statistician also stressed that under the War Regulations Second Division Reservists arc obliged to notify within ten days of an increase or decrease by death in their families, in order thai," they nitty be placed in their proper class. This applies to children only. ' Those failing to notify the Statistician within the prescribed time are liable to a fine of £IOO or twelve months' imprisonment.