MILITARY SERVICE BOARD EXEMPTIONS
Sir,-On reading your valuable paper 1 notice tho number of persons who for various reasons are claiming , exemption, giving in many cases what to my mind seem tho most flimsy reasons. I reluct. Mvtly conclude from those premises that tho Exemption Board ie one of tho great, eat farces wo have in connection with our war operations. There may havo been in tho early stages of our efforts 6omo reason for such a board, but now, after some years of exporienco, what do we find? Amongst the many branches of industry exempted as being essential aro coatminers who will not inino the coal, wharf labourers who will not load ships unless they please, farmers who will not grow the corn, and various others who aro exempted but do not make tho smallest effort to assist in the prosecution of tho war, but nro entirely engrossed in making as much profit out of their fellows frhilat the life-blood of our peoplo aro making red the hills and valleys of faroff Franco. And those to whom I havo referred aro living protected in their lives and liberty and money-making by theso military scryico board's. ' I think, sir, it is about timo this farce should be put n stop to, and every fit man without exception, onco he is drawn In ballot, should at onco toko up his duties as a soldier. This would mean that these military service boards should not havo any say in giving exemption to any man. Sonio may sny we could not allow all fit men to leavo thoir positions without injuring industry. 1 think, sir, it is too lato in tho day for the iudispens. ablo- man's bogy to be urged. Wo all know there is no such man. Ho is purely mythical in any branch of industry, and tho placo for such men at this juueturo is where they aro most serviceable, viz., in tho ranks with their brothers-iii-arnis. Is them a real trno fit man who can read of tho trials and sufferings of our bravo lads (somo of them out theio almost four years) who docs not in his heart feel he should bo giving somo of them a. v.ell-earned rest? Those who do not feet tiiis way comfort themselves behind tho slioltor of tho military servico boards. Abolish tho thing, sny I.—l am, etc., ONLOOKEII. Rowa. . '
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 186, 26 April 1918, Page 7
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397MILITARY SERVICE BOARD EXEMPTIONS Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 186, 26 April 1918, Page 7
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