THE SECOND DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1917, Page 5

THE SECOND DIVISION.

AMENDED CLASSIFICATION. '. By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Wellington, Last 'Night. ; Amended classification of the Second Division Expeditionary Force Reserve, which had been under the consideration of the Recruiting Board, was approved by Cabinet to-day. After the meeting, Sir James Allen said that under the amended classification the Second Division 'would consist' of six classes, and the age would not he a factor in the classification. Tho classes are as follow: (a) Men between the age> of 20 and 46 years who have no children. (b) Men who have one child. (c) Men with two children. (d) Men with three children, (e) Men with four children. '' (f J Men with more than four childrtn. ' In these classes the age is between' 20 and 4fl years. '•I -want to say in regard to the question of dependents," Baid the Minister, "that it is not practicable in classifying the Second Division to take into account dependehts other than wives and children, because the Government Statistician has no particulars'as to the number of dependents'of reservists, and it would' not bo possible to get this information without a great deal of inquiry! tat those who have dependents other than a wife and children have ample protection, because they have the right of appeal to the Military Service Board on account of undue hardship, and this is one of the reasons why the Military Service Boards were established. I also desire to say in regard to men of 143, 44, and 45 years of age, that in all probability we shall have to make arrangemonto to allot them to the home service branch, bccaiwe it is found if they have come to the age of 45 years when they reached England they would not he sent forward to the front In France. Tt 'has been found by experience that these men will noj. stand the strain of campaigning as the men of less age,"