CIVIL DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24826, 28 January 1942, Page 6

CIVIL DEFENCE

COMPULSORY ENROLMENT MALES 18 TO 65 YEARS FORMS AT POST OFFICE All male British subjects between the ages of 18 and 65. inclusive, who are not included in one of the exempted classes, must enrol immediately in the Emergency Reserve Corps for civil defence purposes. Enrolment forms are obtainable at all post offices, and when these have been filled in they must be forwarded to the E.P.S. headquarters nearest to the residence of each man affected. In the case of Dunedin, the E.P.S. headquarters are in the Town Hall, and all forms must be addressed to the secretary there. The liability to enrol is immediate, except for those in the exempted classes, and failure to do so is punishable by imprisonment for three months or a fine of £SO and a further £5 for each day during which the offence continues. Employers are required to see that all men in their employment who are required to enrol have complied with their obligations. Acknowledgment of enrolment will be forwarded in due course. Should this not be received within a reasonable time, the fact should be notified to the secretary, E.P.S. organisation, at the address to which the enrolment form has been forwarded. Exempted Classes The following classes of men are exempted from liability to enrol: — (1) Men in receipt of invalid pensions. (2) Inmates for the time being of hospitals, mental hospitals, blind institutes, and prisons. (3) Men already enrolled in the Home Guard, the National Military Reserve, the E.P.S., or any other branch of the Emergency Reserve Corps. (4) Men actively attached to any branch of the armed forces. Exemption from liability to enrol continues in force only so long as a man is actually included in one of the above classes. Once a man ceases to be so included, his liability to enrol becomes immediate. All men who enrol will be interviewed by special officers selected by the chairman of the central executive of the E.P.S., and an announcement will be made where the interviews are to take place. In a circular recently issued by the Director of National Service, Mr J. S. Hunter, it is laid down that the interviewing officers should make an estimate of a man’s physical condition, and should take into account his availability in the event of an emergency. It was no use, for example, interfering with the work of those on war production, or those who normally worked at night. Fire-watching Services Personnel for the fire-watching service will be selected independently by building fire wardens, and personel for traffic police duties in rural areas will also be selected independently by officers of the Traffic Corps. In the allocation of duties full regard is to be given to the circumstances of each person. Men enrolled in the E.P.S. may be transferred to the Emergency Fire Service or the Emergency Traffic Police. Where the transfer is made to the E.P.S. or E.T.P., no other civilian defence duties are to be undertaken. Provision is made for men, alternate to joining the E.P.S., to join the Home Guard or the National Reserve. MR ROBERT ADAMSON The death occurred at Dunedin on Monday of Mr Robert Adamson, who was a member of a well-known Maori Hill family. “ Rab ” Adamson was in his early life well known in athletic circles. He played football with the Kaikorai team, and represented Otago on 13 occasions from 1900 to 1906. After his playing days were done he acted as a referee for some years. Bowls also engaged his attention, and he was for a time a member of the Balmacewen Club. Mr Adamson had been employed for many years by the Otago Acclimatisation Society at its hatcheries at Clinton and Waitati. MR JOHN PAYNE (P.A.) NAPIER, Jan. 27. The death is announced of Mr John Payne, aged 72, who for a number of years was member of Parliament for Grey Lynn. Mr Payne entered business m Auckland in 1911, and in the same year was elected M.P. for Grey Lynn, standing as a Social Democrat, and defeating the old Liberal Cabinet Minister, Mr G. Fowlds. Mr Payne was again successful in 1914, but retired in 1918. He spent some years in Australia and was secretary to the Labour Prime Minister of New South Wales, Mr John Storey. DR EDWARD LYTTELTON LONDON. Jan. 26. The death is announced of Dr the Hon. Edward Lyttelton, M.A., D.D., D.C.L., headmaster of Eton College from 1905 to 1916. He died at the old palace at Lincoln, aged 86. He had lived with the Bishop of Lincoln, an old friend, for the past 18 months. "DOROTHY WALL” SYDNEY, Jan. 27. The death has occurred of Mrs Dorothy Badgery, well known as Dorothy Wall. She was the author of children’s books.