OBLIGATION PLACED ON EMPLOYERS

Southland Times, Issue 24773, 18 June 1942, Page 4

OBLIGATION PLACED ON EMPLOYERS

ENROLMENT OF WORKERS IN E.P.S. The obligation of employers to satisfy themselves that employees required to do so had enrolled with the Emergency Reserve Corps was explained yesterday by the permanent officer of the E.P.S. (Mr C. R. Hart). He said he wished to draw the attention of employers to a recent amendment to Regulation 8A of the National Service Emergency Regulations 1940. The effect of this amendment is to place upon employers the onus of ascertaining whether the Emergency Reserve Corps Enrolment Order 1942 applies to each of their male employees, and whether It has been complied with by all employees affected. Any failure to observe this duty will make employers Hable to substantial penalties. Cases of default by any employee must be reported by the employer. Where an employee can produce to his employer an acknowledgement of his enrolment form by the local E.P.S. or an E.P.S. identification certificate, this will be regarded as sufficient compliance. In other cases it may be necessary for the employer to make Inquiries from the local E.P.S. organization, and all possible assistance will be given to employers in this respect. The regulations also give a right of appeal against any notice requiring enrolment if the person affected gives notice of appeal and the grounds thereof within 14 days of the date on which the notice becomes applicable to him. Exemptions from enrolment in the Emergency Reserve Corps are as follows: Men who have not attained the age of 18; men who have attained the age of 66; men who are outside New Zealand; men in receipt of invalids’ benefits under the Social Security Act, 1938; inmates of any hospital or of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind; men in respect of whom reception orders are in force under the Mental Defectives Act 1911 (whether or not they are detained in institutions under that Act), or who are detained as voluntary boarders under that Act; men undergoing sentences of imprisonment or detained in Borstal Institutions; members of the Home Guard; men actively attached to any of the naval, military or air forces. All other British male subjects are liable for service and must enrol with the Emergency Reserve Corps.