FAILURE TO REPORT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21243, 14 October 1940, Page 8

FAILURE TO REPORT

MEN IN FIRST BALLOT FINAL APPEALS LODGED A considerable number of men drawn in the first ballot for compulsory military service with the Territorial Army has failed to report when called up for medical examination. In Hamilton alone last week 59 men did not report, and when a special medical board was held today for some of their number, together with men in other classes, 20 out of the 43 called did not attend. In many cases the men concerned have changed their address since the ballot was compiled and have not notified the National Service Department or the military authorities. The procedure to be adopted in respect of men who fail to report for medical examination is that two notices will be sent through the normal post. If the man still has not reported, a registered post notification will be forwarded to him. Failure then to attend at the appointed time will render the recruit liable to prosecution. Very few extra appeals arrived by today’s mail. Although definite figures are not available it is stated that in the No. 4 (Hamilton) military area the number will be more than 1100. Numbers of these, however, may be duplicated, as in some cases both the men balloted and his employer or his dependent have appealed. The appeals have not yet been sorted and classified and it is not possible to say how many individual reservists have appeals standing in their name. However, this number is likely to be considerably below 1100. 700 Appeals at Paeroa In the Paeroa area a large number of appeals was received. They have been sorted, and after the removal of duplicated appeals it is shown that the cases of 700 individual reservists will have to be considered by the Paeroa Manpower Advisory Committee. The first sitting of the committee is expected to be at an early date. Before any appeals can be considered, however, there is a big task for the National Service Department officials in each area. Questionnaires regarding each appellant have to be forwarded to the reservist, the employer, or the dependant concerned. Arrangements have to be made for the medical examination of all appellants, if that has not already been completed, and a subsequent notice sent to each reservist who has an appeal standing to his name notifying him of the time and date of the hearing by the manpower committee in his area.