TWO M.P.'S ENLIST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2486, 12 June 1915, Page 6

TWO M.P.'S ENLIST

.MESSES. DOWNE STEWART ANDT. E. Y. BEDDON. Two members of tho House of Representatives, Mr. T. E. Y. Seddoix (Westland) and Mr. Downie Stewart (Dunedin West) enrolled yesterday in tho New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, ihoy join the ranks, and will go into training at Trentham shortly. Both members wero seen by a reporter in Wellington yesterday, and thoy mado a joint statomont which has boon forwarded to their respective constituencies. Thoy aro anxious to impress upon their constituents that in t'hc Btop tliey have taken the absence of any earlior intimation was not intended as a discourtesy to their constituents. They feel that in view of the great struggle in which tho Empire is involved, it lies upon them as <i duty to make tho interests of the Empire their consideration. They have felt for some timo tliat tho stop should be taken promptly, but tho uniquo position ill which party government in Now Zealand has stood since tho general election has made it incumbent upon them to meet as far as practicable the wishes of, their respective leaders, and this entailed the delaying of their enlistment. Their _ absence from Parliament while training and on service abroad will not in an; way affect tho respective strength o: tho paries. Eaoh member felt ft hii duty to identify himself in the matte: with tho local recruiting effort, consequently, although the applications fo: enrolment have been lodged in. Welling toil, they will be sent on to Dunedi and Greymouth respectively to be deal with by the district military officors.