MILITARY SERVICE BILL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2805, 24 June 1916, Page 10

MILITARY SERVICE BILL

IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS

EXEMPTION TO RELIGIOUS

OBJECTORS

A FINAL APPEAL

The Military Service Kill was reported to the Legislative Council yesterday liv the ..llop. O, Samuel from 'the Statutes hevision Committee. Several important alterations are made in tho Bill, which will be considered by the Council in Committee on Tuesday. The definition of those included in the Reserve.is slightly altered to make liable for further gervto those'discharged from the Forces, extent those discharged for disablement or ill-health.

Provision is made for the endorsement on the register of. the fact that p. person has volunteered and not been accopv od for service. The exclusion of aliens and men of alien origin -from the Forces is provided for in the following new clauses: "If the commandant determines, upon,evidence satis, factory to hirii, that either of the -parents of : any reservist is, or at auy time was, by birth or naturalisation or otherwise, a subject of an enemy nation; or thftt such reservist, or cither of his parents is or \ras at any time, employed in the service of an .enemy nation, the commandant may, if he thinks fit, discharge lum from the reserve."

Any reservist declared . pn'maneritiy medically unfit for military - service may be discharged from the reserve. Every, reservist who, without reasonable cause, the proof whereof shall lio on him, fails to submit himself for medical examination when required, shall be liable on l conviction to a fine of ,£lO, or three months' imprisonment. The applicability of the First Offenders' Probation Act to men guilty of desertion from the Force is deleted from the Bill. . '

, Religious Exemption. . Provision fof religious objectors ]g made by the insertion of the following new ground for appeal for exemption from military service:—"That he was on.August 1, 1914, and has since continuously been a member of A. religious body, the tenets and doctrines of which religious body declare the bearing! of ..arms and the performance of aiiy military service to be contrary to Divine revelation, and also that according to lite own conscientious religious belief the bcariji" of iirnis and the .performance of any military serried is unlawful by reason of lwins contrary to Divine revelation." But "a Military Service Board shall not allow any appeal on this ground unless the appellant shall.signify his willingness to perforin such con-military work or solrices in New Zealand as may be required of him at such.rate of payment as tuny, be prescribe:!.'" The new clause inserted by tha lower House providing that , an employer who wai the father'or mother of an employee should not be entitled to.appeal for the exemption of that employee is struck out.

Final. Appeal Board. A new- provision is inserted providing that the Governor may, "if lie thinks tit," constitute and establish by regulations a Final Appeal Board, to'consist of such number. 6f persons as the Governor determines, to bo appointed by him, and to hold office, during his pleasure. This Final Appeal Board may hear'and determine appeals from Military Service Boards, but only in such classes of case-3 as may from time to time be prescribed by regulations. Whore an appear to the Final Appeal Board is permitted tho decision ot the Military Service Board sliall be suspended pending decision. To tliis Board, the Minister of Defence or any Military Service Board may refer , any question of interpretation, administration,, or procedure arising unflor '.the provisions of Hio Act relating to exemptions or discharges or appeals! The decision of tho Final Appeal" Board upon any general matter shall be notified to tho Military' Service Boards in general, which thereafter, shall be bound by that decision.

'l'ho minimum penalties of-oSe month's imprisonment or .£lO fine for failure to apply for registration in the reserve {if not enrolled) are withdrawn, and .the penalties made. "not exceeding three months" and "not exceeding.

The work and pay to be required of. mem exempted from military service shall be prescribed by regulation, and persons'refusing to do Mich "work shall ■be liable, to twelve months' imprisonment or .£IOO fine. -

• Another important alteration has been made to the clause giving a . constable power to "arrest without /warrant" any man who-failed to satisfactorily answer any question put to him by a constable, 'Hiit words "arrest warrant" have been altered and the following inserted "Detained .by...a; constable' and brought before a ,Justice of the Pprcs to bs dealt with according to the law."