ABOUT EXEMPTIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 138, 28 February 1918, Page 4

ABOUT EXEMPTIONS

QUESTIONS AND THE ANSWERS.

Professor Muckcnzio' addressed tbxoo written questions to Mr. Massey i'or reply at iJie meeting on Tuesday night. Tlio opportunity to answer them did not occur at the meeting, but Mr. Massey furnished' the answers yesterday as follow:— Question L—Seeing that the Government deemed it necessary to pass a Bill to exempt the clergy and lUarist Brotlhers from military service, and seeing that Parliament refused to pass sudi a Bill, how came it that the military boards have acquired power and authority to exempt clergymen, and Marist Brothers, and thus defeat ilio express intention of Parliament? Mr. Massey's reply .-"Prolessor Mackenzie should make sure ot his facts. The Bill introduced by the Government did not include or refer to the Marist Brothers, but when in Committee an amendment was moved which would have included all teachers, whether in public or private schools. This amendment was carried by a small majority and referred to the Legislative Council in the usual way, but the Council declined to pass it ;* consequently a deadlock occurred, which wrs solved by the Government dropping the Bill." Question 2.—Why have not the Military Medical, and Efficiency, Boards been' sworn in to discharge their duties faithfully and conscientiously (as .is the case of Magistrates, Judges,,and all who are called upon to act in a judicial capacity)?, Mr. Massey's reply—"As to Military Service Boards, they are in exactly the same position to-day that they were on the first day that the Military Service Act came into operation.-1 he boards consist of strong, unbiased and impartial men, carefully selected. They have full power and authority to allow appeals or to reject them, just as m their judgment they think right and proper, and I would no more think of lntcrierin°- with- a Military Service Board in connection with its duties than I would think of interfering with tlio Supreme Court. As to Military Service Boards being compelled to take oath in the same way as Magistrates, this is not provided for in the Act which appoints them, nor do I think there is any necosS1 Question 3.-Why have boys of 19 been conscripted and so not attorded any opportunity of enlisting voluntarily on attaining their twentieth year? [I am prepared to furnish names of such conscripts.] , Mr Massey's reply.— 1 understand that a small number of young men, in filling up the forms which are icquired by statute, omitted to give the month and date of their birth. In euch cases the Registrar-General had no option but to class them as being twenty years of age- but there is no difficulty in the matter. They can either appeal to the Military Service Board in tho ordinary course, when their appeal will be allowed, as being under the age fixed by law for compulsory service, or they can call the attention of tho military authorities when they arc notified to so into camp." , "I want to make it perfectly clear that tho Government has no intention of applying the principle of compulsory servico to young men under twenty years of age. nor would .the, law allow anything of the sort, even if the Government desired it."

FIRE AT LYALL BAY

Shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the Fire Brigade received a call to Wha Street, Lyall Bay, where an outbreak of fire bad occurred in a small carpenter's shop. The shop was owned and occupied by Messrs. Harold Donngkue and Percy Carlile. Therewaa no insurance on the building or the contents, all of which were destroyed. The loss included a gas engine. Tho cause of tho fire is unknown. Tho owners left the building at noon and did not roturn, &o there was no one on tho promises at tho time of the outbreak.