Young Men at the Front

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 October 1915, Page 3

Young Men at the Front

Air 1' iciu jIU.X". in uie ijjuUse Oi i*epicsentatives last ueuncsuay, put uut lollowing question to ine jianster 'or JJolenco:—'' Wlietlier lie lias seen tno letter, written by •Uoionel .Uacliosy at the Dardanelles wj Uie Mayor oi Kiiaiigarei pointing out tho gnevious nus taiio ol sending uio young and undovelopeu men to the front; and wliet'lier the Government will ta-Ke moro effective measures to prevent boys under twenty years ol age lrom joining our Reinforcements'( (Note.—lt is freely stated that medical men an suine cases iiavo passed men as over twenty years of age who were known to be under that age). The Hon. Mr. Allen (Minister ol Defence) replied, w iien registered lor service, intending recruits are required to certify to their age, and ii under twenty years they are informed by tlio enrolling officer that they will not be allowed toi proceed with Reinforcements leaving New Zealand until they have attained that age. If a young man states h s age as twenty years and looks that age, it is difficult for the examining medical officer to refuse to pass him if physically fit. Directions were given that birth certificates were to be produced where thought necessary.