IN AND OUT OF CAMP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3160, 11 August 1917, Page 8

IN AND OUT OF CAMP

Sir-Could you pleaso tell me through the medium of your paper how it is that some men who have been called up in the ballot find it possible to get their discharge out of camp, while others, who are less fortunate, have to go away and fight? , . For instance, I know of a man who is iv land and money-holder, and who was called up in a ballot about five or six months ago. Since then he has been put out of camp, then.put back into a reinforcement, and now is a civilian again. Is monev of more value to the country than the man? My opinion of this matter is that tho man who owns property oiHit to go and do his share to protect it, instead of dodging his duty and letting others, who perhaps do not possess any property, go away to fight and perhaps die for th> shirkers! Is it influence, or is' it money, that gets these men out of camp? Can money buy honour? I know for a positive fact 01 a man to whom the Military Appeal Board granted three months' time to dispose of land and crops. When the three months were up this man -ertainly went into ■-amp, [but not for long. Alter a few weeks lie was out of camp again, but evidently the board was not satisfied, and so he had to become a soldier once more. Now ho is in civilian clothing a»ain, to my great surprise. As a matter of fact, this man's brother was called up in a ballot about two months ago. He appealed on the grounds that he had to mannge hso small farms, and also because he was of so much value to the surrounding fanners, being the only• (.') man with n reaper and binder .in that district.- The case was adjourned until tho next board sitting, so chat further inquiiies could bo made. Will it be possible for this man to stay at home, as well as his brother, and so dodge active service? Would that be a case of a family shirker? . To conclude. J must say that I think the property holder and the labourer should be placed on an equal footing when it comes to a question of who is to go on active service and who is to stay at home. Hoping you will bo able to make matters clear to me—l am, etc., AN APPLICANT I'OE HIS JOB. Wairarapa, Augnst 9. fA man mav go into enmp and be discharged on account of medical unfitness. No distinction is mads on account of a, person's financial position.]