VOLUNTEER FORCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16372, 28 October 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

VOLUNTEER FORCE.

ITS DUTIES DEFINED. Tin: Secretary of the War Office makes the following announcement :— Since Hi* Majesty's Government decided to invite offers of service of persons desiring to be formed into Volunteer Corps under the Volunteer Act of 1863, the services of 247 infantry battalions have been accepted by the King. Every county in England, as well as many of those in Scotland and "Wales, are represented in the list, and further offers are still being received. All British subjects over 17 years of ;;ge who are not' actually serving with the colours are eligible for enrolment in the Volunteer Force, and it is specially desirable that those who are not encaged on 'important war work, and are physically capable of rendering useful service, diould come forward for enrolment. There are, however, certain classes of men, employed in munition works, on railways, and Government Departments whose civil work in connection with the war is of such importance that they would serve their country better in the event of attempted invasion by remaining at their ordinary duties. Duties of the Volunteers. The volunteers can only be called out for j actual military service if and when it beroines necessary for the purpose of repelling till enemy in the event of an invasion being imminent, but they can render valuable service in the meantime by assuming j ■responsibility for guarding, on the rota system, certain vulnerable points, lines of communication, etc., thus releasing fulltime troops for other duty, and by performing other military work upon which regular or territorial soldiers would otherwise have to be employed. It is of the essence of the movement that such service rendered prior to the emergency is voluntary and unpaid, the work done being an active contribution to their country's defence by men who arc precluded for various reasons from serving with the colours. Free travelling warrants are, however, provided, • and a ration allowance, calculated at the rate of 5d for each six hours' continuous duty (the ordinary army rate), is payable to the funds of the corrjs which provides the men. Further, compensation for death or j injury sustained as a result of the duty is pavable generally on the lines of the i Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906. If the Volunteer Force is ever called out for actual full-time military service, officers and volunteers so called out will be treated as regards the issue of pay, separation allowance, and compensation for death or injury precisely on the same footing as territorial troops.