CANADA.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1917, Page 5

CANADA.

ELECTIVE CONSCRIPTION, Ottawa, June 12, The Military Service Act provides a maximum of 100,000 men. There are ten classifications, beginning with single men aged 20 and upwards. All men in Canada are assumed to be liable for service. Three tribunals have been ajrpointed tc select tliem: (1) A local tribunal, the personnel of which is not appointed by the Government, but by Parliament, to allow exemptions in various cases; (2) an appeal tribunal composed of provincial judges; (3) a final appeal tribunal with a Supreme Court judge. , Sir Robert Borden, in introducing the Bill, reviewed the causes of the war. Canada determined, at the earliest to do her part, and was not receding from that determination. In January, 1916, Canada pledged half a million men. No opposition was offered to the pledge, which must be made good. Volunteering had failed, and they must either recruit compulsorily enough men to keep four f divisions at the front, or allow them to become extinct. Men wer6 urgently, insistently, and imperatively needed in every branch of the service. Seventy thousand men would be required in the nest seven months to maintain the Canadian Army. Sir Robert Borden dened that the Imperial authorities had in any way influenced his decision The only difference between the proposed conscription and that provided under the existing militia law lies in the selective conscription that will enable Canada to provide men without dislocation of industries and agriculture The measure provides tsin; anyone who, when his class is called out, refuses to come will be deemed guilty of desertion and liable to three years' imprisonment Sir Robert Borden offered to receive any amendment Parliament desired For the year ending May 1, 85,000 men had enlisted in Canada, and the casualties had been 75,000. During April and May enlistments had been 8000 men, and the casualties 21,000.