THE MILITARY BILL.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2789, 6 June 1916, Page 6

THE MILITARY BILL.

Sir,—Opinions have been expressed from various view-points concerning the position of men married since the war, and I trust you will permit me space to suggest another that seems to have ' been overlooked. Some say that right to be treated as a married man should be decided on the time of marriage, opinions ranging, from the date of the outbreak of war to the end of 1915, but surely it must appeal to common-sense that date of marriage is no test if justice is to be done. Just because a number—probably very limited—of young men got married immediately tho National TCegister was mooted, 't is intended to attribute similar motives, viz., to evade enlistment, to all who have married either before or after, irrespective of age or circumstance. Obviously those who married before the National Register could have no such motive, and likewise those who married after the warning was given that it would not be recognised, and right up to the present, would be taking a forlorn hope if thay married merely for that reason. There are a great many—among them the writer—who aro just as patriotic as tho rest, and possibly eager to go, but are so placed in business that they cannot go without sacrificing it entirely, and at 30 or 35 have not felt the call as yot come for su.ch complete sacrifice cf material things, and' feeling so, and having met their counterpart, oven since the war, have felt it equally commendable, seoing ttiey could not go to the front, to marry in the ordinary course, knowing their marriage would possibly not be lecognised, iiuT: believing they were doing right, both from an individual and national outlook, willing to accept the fonsequences, and willing to he treated as single men for enlistment when the call conics.

Now, sir, iF is well known, and an admitted fact, that hundreds of men have enlisted for no other Tenson than fear of public oninion. Which nre the better patriots? If it is not intended to get cheap soldiers, and if the country honestly desires to study' the future as well as the present welfare of the nation, are not men who have married under such conditions worthy of their country's consideration? And when necessity demands they should make complete sacrifice c.f 'their business, is not. the least the country can do to uroviiTe pensions for their wives and children? If not. are we to understand that the Government, whilst believing in "Business as usual-." considers that since the war marriages should cease, with ""he resultant loss of future progeny to the nation, at a time When surely it is most needed?—l ani. etc.. ONE OF THEM.