MILITARY SERVICE.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 December 1917, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE.

As a result of the announcement that the Defence Department do not want men sent to camp before next April, it appears that none of the men drawn in the thirteenth—Decemberballot will be required to enter camp before the first week in April. The lists for the January, February and March drafts are practically full. The March draft will contain the first of the Class A, Second Division reservists, but it will not exhaust the fit men drawn in the twelfth —November —ballot, as the Defence Department has to carry forward some men who have appealed and are not immediately available. Inquiries have been made regarding the position of men in the Second Division, who have enlisted voluntarily for given dates, on the understanding that they would go into camp with the early Second Division drafts. The present arrangement seems to be that if the Second ZHvision drafts are delayed those volunteers desiring to join them must appeal for extension of leave.

MINERS AND CONSCRIPTION.. WELLINGTON, Dec 6. A conference of the Miners' Federation passed a resolution protesting against the Hon. Russell's assertion that not one New Zealand union agrees with the policy of the Australian Workers' Union in refusing to allow its members to leave for New Zealand, and stating that not only is the New Zealnad Miners' Federation in sympathy with that policy, -Fut the Wellington Trades' Council had issued a manifesto denouncing the "attempts of the New Zealand Government to get Australian labour in "place of New Zealand labour conscripted. The Hon. Russell, to -whom the resolution was submitted, said he thought the statements made did not reflect the general opinion of the workers of New Zealand, or the intelligent section of the members of the Miners' Federation. A number of miners had already joined the forces, and had done splendid work at the front, especially in connection with the Tunnelling Corps.