BOYS ALREADY IN MILITARY SERVICE
Sir,—Much discussion is now taking place throughout New Zealand re the proposed compulsory enlistment of bovs from 19 upwards. There is little doubt that it is due to a weak Government, who, nfiaid to meet their constitutional troubles, look round for any other matter, however weak, which may ease their present difficulties, however- much tilt relief may increase the national troubles of a year or so hence. It reminds one of the hardened old soaker, who, on "the morning after the night before' wants "an early morning drink" instead of deliberately putting tho peg in, and eo feeling a better man at the end of tho day. The "Bulletin" some years ago had a full-page cartoon over this titlo [he central figure being Sir Joseph Ward. (I am not suggesting tliat 'the Minister of Finance is responsible- for tho idea of conscripting boys. The cartoon referred to Sir Joseph Ward's Ministerial borrowing habits.) However, many, of the public don't know that the conscription or enlistment of boys is already with us. I,ast Saturday night I took my usual evening out, meeting friends and doing my siiopping. I suppose I met m my rambles about a score of soldiers, anil four of thesu were boys, all belonging to tho camps. Ono was 19. His voice alone showed that he was only a hoy. but he 'told nie he had told' the authorities that he was 25, and no more was said. He had enlisted over a year ago, giving his right age, and after a few months of camp lite ho was put out on account of his youth. The others are about the camps still, whether ou Home or Expeditionary Forco service I don't know. I doubt if the parents of Jill oi them know thej _ are in camp. One told me he had given the authorities "his parents' written consent to his enlisting and that put everything right. , One of them can only be 16 or 17, and I have seen liini in Lambton Quay clearly under the. influence of liquor, burely even bar-tenders should know that many males, though in uniform, are well under 21 If a bov's voice has not broken lie can hardly be old enough to be legally entitled to liquor. My knowledge of soldiers is limited, probably I do not know more than a hundred or so. I cannot but think, however, that there are hundreds of men iu our camps much under 19 It appears as though anyone who wishes to can get into camp, irrespective of ago, or physical maturity, or fitness. I do not know if it is equally easy to ■ get out. I do know that many very ht men manage to keep out of camp, whether drawn in tlie ballot or not _ 1 don't know. Is there any method in the conduct of defence matters in New Zealand?—l HABEHGBON .
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3164, 16 August 1917, Page 6
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485BOYS ALREADY IN MILITARY SERVICE Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3164, 16 August 1917, Page 6
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