THE NATIONAL REGISTER

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 4

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

COMPLETION OF ROLLS. STATEMENT BY MR MASSE"?. The Prime Minister has forwarded us a statement about the National Register, in the course of which ho says: It is a remarkable fact, too, that many of the local bodies which have been most insistent in urging compulsory measures have so far made i.. 0 effort to do tho preliminary work that is essential to the equitable enforcement of the principle they advocate. One of tiie main purposes of tho National Register was to provide tho groundwork for the compilation of complete and accurate roils. The only way to secure reasonably perfect rolls is by the systematic personal canvass urged by the board three months ago, and tho boar;] submits that those who should carry it out are- the citizens over the military age, working m conjunction with tho local authority in each district. Tho reasons why the local authorities and local residents are called upon to do this work are mainly these: (1) The hands of the Government and the 'Defence Department are I'm.: \l) local bodies and local residents, because of their local knowledge, are the only orues who know who should and who should not be on the roll. If they do their duty in seeing that every eligible man is enrolled no man can escape his obligations. Likewise, it lies within their power to keep the rolls up to date by promptly reporting every removal from and arrival in their district. A further vital punt is that men cannot bo selected according to their respective classes when there is no complete roll available. Tit is is of special concern to married men with dependents, who should therefore see that not only are tiny themselves on the roll, but that every other man is. If men with dependents do not acquaint tho recruiting committees or defence authorties with their responsibilities, how can they expect tho recruiting committees and defence authorities to know them? Thus the more men there arc on the rolls the less chance is thr-ro of any man being called on before his turn. If citizens over the military age ere not to be charged with lacking in patriotism, then they must display more energy than they arc "manifesting at present. The work is as urgent as it is necessary if New Zealand : s to fulfil its military obligations and injustice is not to be done. With three months gone, there is a large proportion of the work yet left to do. Several districts, though "late, are now getting under way. but otihers have done little or nothing at "all. It is to these latter disricte that the Recruiting Board earnestly appeals, and in doing so would point out that wherever tho personal canvass has beer, tried, few, if any, difficulties have been experienced, and no insults have been receiv 'd. Indeed, tho general experience has been that men have Socked to the recruiting offices as never before, ensuring the success of the voluntary system locally for months to come; but in the event of voluntaryism failing, the nation must be in a position to immediately apply compulsion, and this cannot be fairly dono without having complete rolls, which, _in turn, cannot be secured without carrying out a complete canvass in each local district.