MILITARY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1916, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE.

FAMILY SHIRKERS TO BE ROPED IN NEAT MONTH. U'l'oni uur Own Correspondent). Tlie despatcli of notices under clause o5 of the Military Service Act is now in full swing. At least 1000 notices, covering 11 of the 21 recruiting districts into which the Dominion is divided, have been sent out from Defence Headquarters, and the others will follow quickly. The notices are not being posted to the men concerned. They are being -forwarded to the police, who will make personal delivery in each case, so that there will be no room for mistakes or misunderstanding. The recruiting districts to which notices have been sent already are as folliws:—Group 2 (Hauraki), Group 3 (North Auckland), Group 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs), Group 6 (Manav.atu), Group S (Taranaki). Group 9 (Christchurch), Group 10 (South Canterbury), Group 13 (Dunedin), Group 14 (Southland), Group 15 (North Otago), Group 16 (Clutlia). The number of men affected in the various groups varies considerably. In 3roup 5 (Wellington City and .Suburbs) very few men have found places on the Defence Department's list of "family shirkers." This may be due to the laoii of a systematic canvass of the district by the local recruiting committee, or it may indicate that few Wellington families containing two or more unmarried sons have failed to send at least one boy into the forces. The Defence authorities are disposed to believe that owing to the proximity of the camps and the daily influx of men on leave, maity of Wellington's shirkers have already been shamed into enlistment.

The notice that is being served on men under clause 35 is a brief and busi-ness-like document. It is addressed to each man individually, and runs a# follows:

"Whereas.l, James Allen, Minister or Defence for the Dominion of New Zealand, am satisfied with respect to the family to which you belong that it consists of or includes two or more brothers who belong to the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve and are not permanently unfit for military service, and that you are one of these brothers;' and whereas the enrolment of the said First Division has been duly proclaimed, now, therefore, I hereby give you notice, in pursuance of the provisions of clause 35 of the Military Service Act, 1016, to show cause before a Military Service Board why you should not be called up tor service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force."

'A note at the foot of the form explains to the men concerned that they have a right of appeal on the ground mentioned in the Military Service Act. Each man is entitled to lodge an appeal with the Commandant of tile i'orees within ten days of the receipt of the notice. He must state his grounds of appeal, and will then be directed when and where to appear before a Military Service Board for the hearing of his case. If he does not appeal, then he automatically 'becomes a member of the Expeditionary Forces on the eleventh day after the .1 elivery of the notice, and will receive orders as to his next step.

Notice of appeal has to be given on a form provided by the Defence Department. I'lie permissible grounds of appeal are set forth as follows;

(1) That I am not a Reservist. (2) That I ain a Reservist of the Second Division. '(3) That my calling up for service is contrary to the public interest, because of my occupation, name- . iy—(4) That my calling up for service will be a cause of undue hardship for the following reasons: (5) That I have religious objections in accordance with section 18 of the Military Service Act. (G) That I am permanently unfit :or > military service. (7) That when I received the notice I had no brother who belonged to the 'First Division of the Reserve. (8) That when I received the notice all my brothers who belonged to the First Division of the Reserve were permanently unfit for military service.

The number of men who will be enlisted compulsorily under clause 35 ol tlitj Act obviously is uncertain. More than 2000 notices are being sent out, but every one o£ the men will have the right of appeal on tile grounds stated in t'hp Act. The Defence authorities are disposed to believe that the percentage of medically anfit aien among the Reservists receiving the notices will not prove large They argue that a man who knew nimself to be /aedicaiiy unfit and therefore entitled to remain outride the forces, ■would put nimself right with the State and hi? friends by volunteering and getting rejected in Inordinary way. it is recognised, however, that many of the ,aen who are being served with notices may have just ground? for appeal. The Military 'Boards are likely to decide that when several brothers are eligible, one or more shall be left at home for the present. It is quite possible that not more than 25 per cent of the men 7)10 arc being served with notices will lie taken into c;imp at once.

The Military Service lloards ar ready to begin their work. There will be no avoidable delay in the hearing of appeals, though the number of cases that can be handled by a Board ,n tire course oif a day will be limited. Reservists "w?ll be entitled to be sented by counsel and to call witnesses, and some of the points raised may be knotty. The personnel of the Medical Boards has not yet been settled definitely. The doctors will be required probably to give their whole time t'j the work, since the members of the Board are to be drawn from outside "1 isa district in which tliey are to .cork, and medical men are scarce in New Zealand at the present time. ■ Each Board ivill consist of three members, and, if possible, four boards will be established.