19

A.—2

They are not to report themselves in person. 5. Men who enlisted before the 24th May, 1900, or who have been in a state of desertion or absence for a period of five years, or who are physically unfit for service, will not be called upon to rejoin for service, but will be given protecting certificates on their reporting themselves in writing, as directed in paragraph 4. 6. The officer mentioned in paragraph 4, on receiving a report from a deserter or absentee, will verify the statements made therein by reference to his documents. If the man is exempt from further service under paragraph 5, he will at once send him a protecting certificate on Army Form B 129. 7. If the man. is not exempt from further service, and belonged to the Regular Forces, the officer will send him instructions to present himself at the nearest military station (in London at St. George's Barracks) for medical examination. He will at the same time notify his action to the officer commanding at the military station, specifying the station to which the man is to be sent for service if he is found to be medically fit. 8. The officer commanding at the military station will cause the man to be very strictly medically examined, and, if he is reported unfit for the service, will dismiss him with a protecting certificate. If he is found fit for service he will furnish him with railway and passage warrants, and send him to join his corps at the station mentioned in the notification received in accordance with paragraph 7 ; a report of the disposal in each case being sent to the officer from whom the notification was received. 9. Absentees from the Auxiliary or Reserve Forces will not be ordered for medical examination, but will be at once taken on the strength on receipt of their applications if they are not otherwise exempt from further service under paragraph 5. If found to be serving in the Regular Forces they will be retained on army service on their last attestation, notification being sent to the corps to which they formerly belonged. 10. Soldiers who, while serving, confess to desertion or fraudulent enlistment will be held to serve on their last attestations. Their coufessions should be made to their present commanding officers. 11. Applications received from persons residing beyond the limits of the. United Kingdom, and who are not exempt from farther service, will, after verification in accordance with paragraph 6, be forwarded to the War Office, from which instructions will be issued in each. case. 12. Deserters and men who have fraudently enlisted will forfeit all previous service, but will not be subject to stoppages on account of free kits issued on fraudulent enlistment, or of articles lost or made away with at the time of desertion. 13. The fact of a soldier having claimed the benefit of the pardon will be entered on his record of service as follows :— " Claimed the benefit of the King's Pardon, having confessed to having By command of the Army Council. E. W. D. Ward.

No. 29. New Zealand, No. 120. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd June, 1910. I kave the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of an Address which has been adopted by the House of Commons requesting a return with regard to the expenditure on religious services in the Crown colonies. 2. T understand that a similar Address will be moved, when Parliament reassembles, with regard to such expenditure in the self-governing dominions, and I shall be glad if your Government will be so good as to favour me with the desired information as regards New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. House of Commons. —Monday, 18th April, 1910. Crown Colonies (Chaplains). Resolved, " That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a return of the names and emoluments of official chaplains in His Majesty's Crown colonies, and of all moneys paid for the maintenance of the religious services in His Majesty's Crown colonies, specifying the religious denominations which receive such money ; also specifying all money grants made during the last ten years for the building or repair of places of worship ; the whole showing the sources from which such moneys have been obtained." Ordered, " That the said Address be presented to His Majesty by such members of this House as are of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, or of His Majesty's Household." C. P. Ilbbrt, Clerk of the House of Commons.