THE NATIONAL WAR REGISTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 52

THE NATIONAL WAR REGISTER.

DISTRIBUTION OF (SCHEDULES.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

Personal schedules in connection with the National War Register for completion by male residents of the Dominion between the ages of 17 and 60 years are now being distributed by the postal department. Schedules were placed in the hands of every postmaster before Tuesday, the 26th inst. On that date the taking of the register commenced. The exhibition of the poster announcing the Governor’s proclamation was simultaneous at every post office and various other points on the morning of the 26th, and the distribution of the schedules will then commence. In the towns schedules will be delivered to every residence by letter-carriers, and called for on completion, At smaller places, whore letter-carriers are not employed, the schedules will be handed to eligible persons by postmasters on demand. Provision has been made by the department for suppying schedules to persons holding private mail bags and to those residents on rural postal deliveries. Special stops are being taken in connection with the registration of crews of coastal and intercolonial vessels. Schedules are not required to bo filled in by full-blooded Maoris or half-caste Maoris living as Maoris, but half-caste Maoris living as Europeans are required to register. Tho organisation of the post office is being used as far as possible to reach every eligible persons in tho Dominion, but the responsibilities for obtaining schedules rest upon the individual. Failure to return completed schedules to the Government Statistician, Wellington, or to an officer of the postal department by November 9 will render eligible persons liable to the maximum penalty of £IOO or six months’ imprisonment. He must give full particulars as to his age, nationality, occupation, dependents, etc., and also stating whether he is willing to become a member of ah Expeditionary Force in connection with the present war or not. In the case of single men without dependents, this must bo answered yea or nay, but for single men with dependents, married men and widowers with dependents, the question is qual.fi.ed with the words “if required.” For tho convenience of the public the offices of registrars of births, deaths, and marriages in tho four chief centres will be open continuously from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the registration period (October 26 to November 9, 1915) for the purpose of affording assistance in the filling up of the schedules to any persons desiring it. It has also boon arranged that postal officers at post offices throughout the Dominion during ordinary office hours will also on application help any persons desirous of assistance in filling up tho schedules. The object of tho registration is to ascertain tho resources of tho Dominion in men. The register to be compiled is purely a civil register, and the furnishing of the schedule required under the Act does not involve enlistment, nor is it in substitution for tho present system of enlistment.