MILITARY DUTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1792, 21 February 1918, Page 3

MILITARY DUTY.

POSITION OF MB. P. C. WEBB, M.P. THREAT BY BLACKBALL MINERS. ‘“THE LAW MUST BE OBSERVED.” Wellington, Tuesday. A number of telegrams have passed between Ministers and the miners’ representatives regarding the demand for the release of Mr P. C. Webb from military service. A message from (he secretary of the Blackball Miners’ Union stated that the miners at the stop-work meeting demanded the exemption of Mr Webb, and insisting on their constitutional rights to choose their own representative for Parliament, and concluded by saying they will resent any interference by an immediate industrial revolt. The replies of the Ministers pointed out that the question of exempting Mr Webb had been before the tribunal provided by law, and its decision must be observed by Mr Webb, just as by any. other member of the community drawn for military service. ' A message from the secretary of the Roa Miners’ Union, Mr W. Allen, stated that his Miners’ Union demands the re-hearing of Webb’s case before the Appeal Bogrd, failing whiph the Union will apt. Thp Minister replied to the effept that thp Military Service Bqart] is the only authority having power to grant exemption from military service, and he was unable therefore to interfere in the matter.