MEN MOBILISED BEFORE THE ARMISTICE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 119, 13 February 1919, Page 4

MEN MOBILISED BEFORE THE ARMISTICE

A HARDSHIP TO BE CONSIDERED

Mr. Edward Nownian, M.P., has been in communication with Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, with the object of getting the definition of "discharged soldier" under Section 2 of the Repatriation Act extended, 50 as to include men who had received orders to proceed to camp and had arranged their private affairs in order to be able to do so, but failed to actually enter camp before the armistice was declared. Ho has received a (reply from the Minister in whjch he says:—"l will be pleased to sec that your request for an amendment of the Repatriation Act next session, to, bring within its provisions the cases of men who were ordered to mobilise.with the November draft, but who did not actually proceed to camp owing to the influenza epidemic and the signing of the armistice, is referred for Hie consideration of the Repatriation Board.

If this amendment to the Act is made it will prevent an injustice being done to a number of men who did not appeal for exemption, being Anxious to do their bit of service for the Empire, and who sacrificed their private interests by disposing of their farms or businesses in order to be ready to obey instructions when they received (hem. When the orders to proceed to camp were countermanded, consequent on the armistice being declared, these men in many cases found themselves in the position of having parted with their mean's of making a hying, wbile at the same time their services were not required as soldiers. Tinder Section 2 of the statute it is.declared "discharged soldier" means a man who has served beyond the seas or in a camp of military training in' New Zealand as a member of an Expeditionary Force under the Expeditionary Forces Act, 1915, and has been discharged from that Force. •

The men (referred to in Mr. Newman's proposed amendment not having actually reached camp, are barred from ell benefits conferred by legislation and otherwise to "discharged soldie.-s."