LAST OF FOUR SONS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3193, 18 September 1917, Page 4

LAST OF FOUR SONS

. SHOULD HE BE EXEMPTED? Mv. Isitt aeked the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives last evening whether it was not a fact that where three sons -were taken from one family, nnd only one boy was left, the remaining boy was immune from conscription. Members: No. That is not so. Mr. Isitt said he had brought one case of the kind under Sir James Allen'e notice, and the Minister had at < once granted tho boy immunity. The Prime Minister said the j matter rested with the military tribunals, but in his opinion if three sons vero taken, and one remained at home- nnd he was called up a mistake would bo made by the military tribunal unless he were exempted. (Hear, hear.) CLAIMS OF THE FARMS. A question regarding the attitude of a southern Military Service Board towards the suggestions of Ministers was asked in tho House of Representatives last night. Mr. J. C. Thomson (Wal> lace) said that the Minister of Defence had made a statement about a fortnight previously to the effect that it would not be advisablo to take the last eon from, it farm in cases where other labour was not available. The chairman, of a Military Service Board operating in Southland had said that the Buggestiou of the Minister tras a "political utterance," and tho duty of the board jas to administer the Act as it 6tood. Mr. Thomson said he knew of a case where a farm was likely to be closed down because the third and laet eon was being taken into the forces. Hβ loped, the Ministerial statement on the subject would be Teiterated. The Prime Minister said he had heard complaints with regard to the board m question. Members of the House would have tho opportunity of amending the Military Service Act later in tho session.