WARNING GIVEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24368, 2 September 1942, Page 2

WARNING GIVEN

EMERGENCY DUTIES liability for enrolment A warning to all males between the ages of 18 and 65 of their obligation to enrol with the E.P.S., and to employers to see that their male employees have complied with these regulations, was issued in a National Service broadcast last night. Some people thought the authorities were too fussy and were taking a wide range of precautions far ahead of the country's need, the speaker said. All the measures taken for national safety were absolutely necessary. The War Administration was kept well advised about possible developments and the whole action taken in the war effort was justified by the grave emergency. Men who had postponed or evaded their national duty to enrol in the E.P.S. were again warned that they could be liable to a fine up to £SO or imprisonment for three months. The authorities, said the speaker, were determined to take every possible measure for the detection anu punishment of persons who had not complied with the regulations. Only by immediate enrolment would such penalties be evaded. Regulations placed a definite duty on employers to check up on all male employees from 18 to 65 to see whether they were in the E.P.S. The employee's production of an acknowledgment from the local E.P.S. on receipt of an enrolment form, or production of an E.P.S. identification certificate, would be sufficient evidence of compliance with the regulations. In cases of doubt the employer should get into touch immediately with the local E.P.S. organisation. Cases of apparent default should be reported promptly to the Director of National Service. An individual employer couM be fined up to £SO for neglect and £5 for every day of the period during which the neglect continued. A corporate body could be fined up to £2OO and £2O a day if the breach continued. Offenders had been allowed more leniency than they deserved and might now sorely regret failure to take action which the country's need urgently required.