SECOND DIVISION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12066, 23 July 1917, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION.

RES KRYISTS' CERTI FTCATES. THE WEEK'S ROUND UP. " "We have toiled all tho week and have taken nothing," might be the summarised comment of tho Christchurch ]>olico on the results of last week's round-up of Second Division reservists. Speaking to a. "Star" reporter today. Sub-Inspector Mullany said that in no case had a reservist failed to produce his certiiicate of enrolment, or to have subsequently brought :iit to the police. Evidently the number of shirkers was very low, or else such men were carefully keeping away from places where they were likely to be asked inconvenient questions by the police officers. No friction had resulted from tho inquiries, which were intended to bo continued as considered advisable.

Apparently, the enrolment certificates am regarded with an esteem beyond the expectations of the, Govomment officials. Some men. could noiti take greater care of tlu-ir pay envelopes, and a reason for not having the, certificates with them given by many reservists was that they did not "wish to dirty the precious document, and instead of risking contamination by having the certificates in their pockets, the papers were kept in the family "cash-box-'" or Bible, in company with certificates of a graver character, such as ithoso connected with births, marriages, death or vaccination. Tho "Star" reporter next interviewed Mr J. CI. Rule, assistant chief postmaster, who declared that the efforts of tho police had caused a rush for the enrolment certificates lying at the post office waiting ownership by dilatory reservists. Whereas a week or so agri. there were two or three thousand of such waiting certificates, now there were less than four hundred, the remainder having been called up during the past few days. Asked as to the demand locally by Second Division men for the new form detailing increases of decreases in. a, reservist's funnily since the national registry was compiled, Mr Rule said that, there had heon a consistent demand, averaging last week fihoult eighty each day. About seven hundred forms bad been filled in since the opening day. The ten days allowed by tho authorities would expire to-day, after which, unless further instructions were received from the Government statistician, no more forms would be issued.