BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, 25 May 1916, Page 5

BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT

SOME OF THE PEOVISIONS. .HEAVY PENALTIES FOR ' ' BIvEAOH'ES. (By Telegraph.:—Own Correspondent.) v The Military Service Bill was introduced. It provides for the establishment, in connection, with the Expeditionary Force, of a reserve called- the Expeditionary Force Reserves, consisting of every male natural-born British subject- of military age in tho DonTimon, with the . following eix captions: —(a) Members of the Expedition - ary Force raised under , the principal Act, and tho Expeditionary Forces Agfc'; (b) men discharged from "that "force o~fter service overseas, and ..(c) men undergoing imprisonment for not less than.one year or confined as of unsound mind.', Th© general reserve is jto. consist of first and; second divisions. The ■ first division consists-of (a) unmarried , men ; (b) married men whose marriage took place subsequent to August 4, 1914,- unless they have children <by a. former marriage ; (c) widowers -with no children; fd) men whose marriages have <been dissolved or are judicially, .separated from their wives and vvho have no children. The second division, of 'the ..reserve shall consist of all other .. the second division may bo divided iritp.. classes i'f thought fit.lf;, tlier©-. in '-.-a,'. doubt as to what, .division, a-irian .-aha'l. enter, he shall ;bo placed 'in the. first, division. "\ t . '.. .. . After the Governor's proclamation •o.i ; ! enrolment, the Minister shall require the Commandant of the Forces to call np such a number of men as he shall direct from, the special classes' concerned. Thesei' men shall t>e selected' by lot by the Statistician 'in. .. siich , a "manner as may be approved. Th© •selection is to take place in the presehcfe of a;. Stipendiary Magistrate. . .These., names shall ihen ibe gazetted, -and' this; notice shall be lawful notice of calling up for seivicei. . • :

On the. diy/following such publication each man .Specified/ sliall be. deenifed ' to ■be transferred from the. reserve* to 'the Expdit-ionary Force, arid; shall be Jie'ld subject- to the provision's o"f the E'xpedi-: .tionary'Force Act. .as if lie. had voluntarily enlisted. , The. failure of - a reservist-to fceport- at the time and place specified is punishable. .Sick men 'failing; to. , report ".as soon as-possible, may be hold liable Mr •being absent without leave; but • sicdaiess shall form no defence unless due:.notice is giyen; Ileservistfe -medically .unfit may. bo (a) either discharged from, both foreland- the cesexve: = (b) disclmrg^- .f romi force and;.. .transferred; to. his.' original' division of/-reserve;., (c) vexe-nipted frotir foreign -service and so remain liable- for service in New Zealand in any capacity* chosen. ' ' >s'„.

Every - man. guilty of desertion -, shall.in addition to cn'e army punishment-/ be guilty of- an inaictable offence punish.able by imprisonment wit-Si-'hard . labour for 10 years. ~ Mon called up for/-service with, the Expeditionary Force shall'-have the'righ.t-.' of appeal to the.Military Service-Board. ; In. addition to the general register, of -.- the -whole of .the division or class, disr trict registers mav be prepared. : The (Dominion may. be divided, into recruiting , districts. The register of - any division., or ojags' shall be' divided 'into as"i many,, district.,.registers■ as . there;: are : iecruiting; districts. Young men. on attaining...the,age of: 20 :y@ars must, eriroj. in the re-.* serve. "Failure- to do .this entails •a- ■ penalty of imprisonment....not exceeding., three .months or a<. fine not exceeding £50.. f , . '

- i JXh.;'Bill::-provid-es-,-thaty.if.< -is satisfied .that any family- includes -two or more brothers who belong- to,*No.:J division and ;axe fit. for,service he may at. any. ttime after .calling. -upT.that.. division <i give: notice to all or any of. these brothers i to show cause why they should not be called -up. ~ ' , -. Heavy penalties are provided: for -at-: -tempting' to evade the Act-. Every per- ; son shall be .guilty of,, an . indictable .of.-- j •fence •■< punishable-'by-five years' hard jLahouiy "Wlio (a)> wilfully\deceives; or atrI.tempts to..deceive the Military.."Board';;; |:(b) :\vil fiilly jdeceives;; ;•> -(c) wilfully deceives/a,iiy; 'medical officer an .respecit, of ; the .. ex-i i'amination of any member of the force, -whether the accused is -that- /; person or,* •not; (d) w.iLi*uiiy deceives,any person '■with intent to procure ,his own ,diia-_ :charge; (e) wilfully attempts <to procure his own, exemption, or. that vof any. other person :tiQm foreign service, or his ownrejection, i .or that- of any/ one else from the force-; (f) offers any 'bribe to any person. .;in the exercise of powers Tinder ? xhe. Act;... (g) does any .act with jntbnt. to. 'evade emrolment, . calling,, jup -jfor vice, ;oiv coritinuance, in service j;. (h.) t-.in.7-cites any person,ito commit any*;of the : forepoing offences or. to r refuse ~fo render.. service -requited ; ■ (i) -conspires. ,>vitTu any ~ other, person to- commit any ,of the offences mentioned, v t i_ ■ Employers are "• also liable. to penalties for employing: defaulters. Any- employer having in his service deserter-brrorie absent without' leave? shall T>e,. liable „to. three montlisV dri a. fiij'e of not less ,'tha'n- £SO, „• or .more^han, .£IOO, unless 'he cam prove: ignorance ; ,' of the fact that. the mail was ~a < deserter. -.Re; servists changing -"theiij._ names. ..shall be. liable to three months', imprisonment,, kr ' a fine not exceeding £50.. . The police are: empowered, to..question any -man- who attains JniUtory age,..and heavy penalties are' provided-., fov not giving correct information. v -Voluntary ' enlistment i.iihroughoufc th.6 Dominion or -in."any, recruiting district may cease at any 'time , specified .by proclamation. , - 'jOPINION IN THE! LOBBY. A THOTtOUGH MEASUPE. .

WELLINGTON, This Day. ; n The "general opinion of members T,eeiirding'the Military Service l3ill is that i<fc is a, very thorough .and, leaxes.xo loopholes for shirkers". ' It is expected th.lt it will be opposed ; by three" if' not" more Labour .members.