SHIRKING FAMILIES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2896, 7 October 1916, Page 10

SHIRKING FAMILIES

OPERATION OF CLAUSE 35 FEWER MEN THAN WERE EXPECTED. The number of men to be ,'secured under Clause 35 of the Military Service Act—the "shirking family" clause —is' still.uncertain, but it is considered probable, : in the light of information which has reached the Defcncc authorities, that the original estimates will prove to have been far too high'. A list, containing the names of many hundreds of men who -were believed to como within tho range of the clause has been prepared, on information collected by Defence officers and* provided by recruiting committees, but a preliminary examination of this list has shown that a very large proportion of tho men mentioned in it would he able to show cause -why they. should not ! be couBcripted. It is often impossible for the recrtuting committees, or the general public, to know whether a particular man has volunteered for service or not. Men who enlisted aiid wero rejected during the early stages of ilie war did not receive acknowledgment cards or badges. The issue.of the acknowledgment card 3 was arranged later, and the .badge system was introduced later still. A rejected recruit, who had received an acknowledgment card, as proof .of his registration, was able to secure a badge, but tho men who had 110 cards' could not secure badges, unless \ they_ .reenlisted and underwent a sectiria .medical examination. This was considered necessary, owing to. the fact that the physical standard' had been changed in the meantime. It is a fact, therefore, that" many ■ rejected . men have 110 badges,'and in'any case the wearing of the badges .has never become general. Very few men would consent to wear tho" old "medically unfit" badge, and • the change made later, when tlie khaki ■ badge was issued to all meii who had offered their- services, whether fit or not, did not have the effect desired., A-'careful'..examination ; of. the lists compiled in connection with Clause 35 I? now being ihade, with'.the object of avoiding •as ■far as possible- that hardship that might bo inflicted 011 indivi- - duals by Its indiscriminate operation." The Defence Department does- not wish to bring before tlie Military Boards men who have already offered- their services and have been rejected as per- . mancntly unfit, or men'-who are disqualified from service for .various reasons. - The checking of the lists by Tecr'uiting committees and the police will not occupy much time. Notices will be served quickly on men who appear to como under the operation of the claiisc, but during the next few daysjt ■tfill'.still be possible for the "family •'shirker" to put himself -right by enlisting as a volunteer. Defence Headquarters invites the families concerned to face the question for themselves. If there aro two or moro sons who are members of the First Division and who .have not yet volunteered for service, then delay will mean for them conscription. . Men who havo not. enlisted because they' believo .themselves to bo unfit can guard against possible humiliation by registering and undergoing the me'dical examination voluntarily. •