THE DOMINION'S PART

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1915, Page 5

THE DOMINION'S PART

STOP THE SHIRKERS. A RUSH FOE RECRUITS. TIMELY RLGCLATION. By Telegraph.—Press Assoc;.iL:e:i. Wellington, Nov-. 18. Something ii!vt> a rush I'oi permits to leave the Dominion occurred at the Department of Internal Affairs yesterday. Many are anxious to leave for Sydney to-day, but, as every application must be investigated before a permit is issued, many will miss the steamer. The shipping companies are asking intending passengers to produce permits before issuing tickets, but even if a ticket is procured this will not entitle a |ja-jscnger to board an outward-bound ship or relieve the company from the responsibility of letting him go without a permit. One hundred men of military a;;e have applied for permits to sail by the .Sydney steamer to-morrow. Investigation in, all eases is very thorough, and good reasons for leaving must bs given before the authorities are satisfied. The Post states there is evidence that the regulation ha 3 been most opportunely passed.

SOLDIERS' WIVES AND FAMILIES. LEFT UNPROVIDED FOIL ACTION OP CHARITABLE AID BOARD. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Lust Night. The fact that the wives of some of tlio soldiers in camp, or at the front, are dependent upon charitable aid for the support of themselves and their families was mentioned ut-to-day's meeting of Wellington Hospital Hoard. Mr. B. Pi. Gardiner .drew attention to the growth of charitable aid expenditure. The board was, he said, being penalised in a scandalous way in connection with enlistments, and he mentioned two eases j of married men going into camp and leaving wives destitute. Apparently the Defence Department made no attempt to protect the wives- by seeing that onlisted men allowed a share of their pay to their wives. The Government should make itself responsible for the families of men who joined the expeditionary forces. Mr. I). Campbell (chairman of the Charitable Aid Committee) said his committee would like to hear of such eases, as it would then approach the military autliorities with the object of securing allocations from the soldiers' pay. Mr, P. T. .Moore mentioned the hard lot of interned enemy su'bjeets. The Board was giving rations to the wife of one such man, but she needed rent, too. The Oovernment should provide for these eases. It was right to intern the men, but a British community should not penalise the women. Mr. C. M. Luke said the position of soldiers' wives was a matter o; great importance. Apparently a man could get away without disclosing that he was married, and while men were in camp they were not compelled to provide for dependents. Mr. F. Castle said that several cases had come before the committee, and lie 'did not think the Defence authorities took sufficient care in the matter. There was no stigma attaching to a soldier's wife who had to accept charitable aid, but the process was not fair to her. The eases of the wives of interned aliens certainly required attention, as several of these women were dependent on the Board. The. chairman, with Messrs 11. Baldwin and D. Campbell, were appointed a deputation to make representation to the Defence Minister.

COMPULSORY SERVICE. FARMERS' UNION FAVORABLE. Hawera, Last Night. The Taranaki Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union yesterday passed a resolution in favor of compulsory service.