AN UNCALLED-FOR ACTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1917, Page 6

AN UNCALLED-FOR ACTION.

To the Editor. Sir,—l will be grateful to you if you will allow mo a little space in your valuable paper to bring under tho notice of your readers facts by which some men are being arrested under the present system of militarism in New Zealand. Tho particular case which I refer to is that oJjjny brother, who was drawn in tho ballot and has since been arrested as a deserter without any just cause. Now, to show you that I am not seeking the sympathy of any ono. but simply defending my brother, I wi9. state particulars. We had been farming at Okau for some years, and at any time it was ft financial loss, as well as inconvenient for either of us to go to tho war, when there were men without any obligations whatever who had not made any effort to go. My brother received notice to attend a medical board on a certain date, which lie did, and was given a few days' leave from camp. On the expiration of 'his leave he found it necessary to apply for a further 'extension of leave on account of ill-health. His sick leave expired on April 30, 1917', when he received notice to attend another medical board at New Plymouth, which he did, and was told that he would have to see the same doctor that had examin«d him on the first occasion, and was accordingly' recommended to attend? the medical board at Hawera; but he never received any further notice from the defence authorities until lie was arrested as a deesrter. To arrest a man and punish him as a criminal or a deserter, whose object is to defy the law, is upheld by all just living citizens. To degrade an innocent man, particularly at a period like the present, is wrong and indefensible. My brother stated his position clear enough to show ho was not at fault. The group commander at Hawera knew his address, and the police 'at Inglewood knew his whereabouts, and I fail to see what cause they had to take the uncalled-for steps they did.—l am, etc., WM. McMAHON. Inglewood, 30/5/17.