CLASSIFYING OF SINGLE MEN

Southland Times, Issue 24161, 25 June 1940, Page 6

CLASSIFYING OF SINGLE MEN

THREE AGE GROUPS IN RESERVE

RECENTLY MARRIED MEN INCLUDED

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 24. Classification details of the General Reserve formed under the National Service Emergency Regulations 1940 were announced tonight by the Minister of National Service (the Hon. R. Semple). It is made clear that married men in certain categories including those married since May 1 last are to be classified as single men and it is stated that while the primary object of. the classification of the reserve is to provide the man-power required for the armed forces for service, at home or abroad the national register may also be used for civil purposes by increasing those goods and services that are essential to the furtherance of New Zealand’s war effort.

“Though the whole of the General Reserve has been classified,” the Minister said, “it does not necessarily follow that all the classes will be enrolled and it is only from the classes whose enrolment is directed by a proclamation by the Governor-General that reservists may be selected by ballot for service in the armed forces.” The reserve is in the first place divided into three parts—the first division, the second divison and the third division. The first division consists of all unmarried male reservists who are natural born British subjects and who are 19 years of age but under 46. Exceptions are made of those who have enlisted for or have been discharged as unfit for service overseas, those serving prison sentences of 12 months or more and inmates of mental institutions.

The only difference in definition of the second division is that it comprises married men instead of unmarried men. The third division includes all other reservists consisting principally of females, males from 16 to 19 and males over 45. AGE GROUPS The first division is subdivided into the following classes:— (a) Unmarried men aged 21 to 40 both inclusive. (b) Unmarried men aged 19 and 20. (c) Unmarried men from 41 to 45 both inclusive. Men without children are deemed to be unmarried if they are widowed, divorced or judicially separated or if they married on or after May 1, 1940. Children include those legally adopted before May 1, 1940, step-children and legitimated children of reservists who married mothers before May 1. No other step-children or legitimated children are included. Immediately on the proclamation of the enrolment of any class of the reserve, the Director of National Service will prepare a register of all persons in that class. It is made clear that the Social Security register now in the course of compilation will be used for this purpose and any failure to complete the form which was due at the end of May constitutes an offence. ENROLMENT CERTIFICATES Certificates of enrolment will be issued only to reservists of enrolled classes and if these are not received within 28 days of the date of proclamation application should be made for them to the Director of National Service together with a copy of the original registration form. Failure to do this will be an offence against the regulations and any convicted reservist. may at once be called up for service with the armed services without ballot. Employers are prevented from retaining in their service for more than seven days a man who belongs to an enrolled class and is not enrolled and they may safeguard themselves by requiring employees to produce their certificates of enrolment. Offences against the regulations may be punished by a fine of £lOO, imprisonment for 12 months or both.