"I'D SCORN TO BE,A CONSCRIPT"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2772, 16 May 1916, Page 6

"I'D SCORN TO BE,A CONSCRIPT"

$ : WELLINGTON YOUTH MAKES A* BOLT FOB THE WAR. "I'd scorn to bo a conscript.'' Thift' sentence blazed from the letter of a 17-year-old Wellington youth, who- had, written from Sydney, to his muchworried mother to tell her where he'was, what he had done, and why he bad done* it. The youth, whose name is Nelson, Skinner, is 17 years of age, and an em. ployee of the Wellington Harbour Board. About three months ago ho enlisted, but maternal anxiety . on account of his youth blocked him, and he had perforce to remain, fretting under the restraint. ■ Some days ago he got his holiday leave,, and went, so everybody thought, to Paluierston North. He was due back at the office yesterday, but, in the parlance* of the Court Crier, there was "no appearance." Inquiries were instituted, and his mother was nearly distracted until a letter arrived from Sydney to end the mystery. He couldn't help it, he. said. He just had to go, and' as he. couldn't get in in his own country he had made up his mind to try the other: side. So he went. He had just enough to get him across and keep him going for a day till he was passed by tho doctor and went off to camp. He was sorry, ho said, to think that he bad caused hia mother any worry, but, as he explained; "I'd scorn to be a conscript." His mother is a widow, and now she is selling some of her furniture to rais9 money to send some ,to her boy. ' Tho story has got about, and the mother being now resigned to the situation, steps are to be taken to secure youngSkinner's transfer .to ■ the-'New Zealand Keinforcements.