GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1918, Page 8

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

MILITARY SERVICE BY CLERGYMEN

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, April 12. At the Military Service Board, Cuptain Walker, military representative, said that in view of present conditions he thinks the question of clergymen may be reconsidered. He had no doubt a change was pending, and it was not unlikely that clergymen would be conscripted for non-combatant work. MORE ABOUT WEBB!.

Wellington, April 12. A large deputation, claiming to represent 50,000 trade unionists, waited on Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir James Allen, and Mr. Wilford this morning and requested the release of Private Webb, M.P - from civil custody on the grounds that his electorate was disfranchised by his imprisonment. Mr. Massey, in reply, said the request of the deputation would go before Cabinet, but he desired to make it plain that he regarded disloyalty as the most serious crime of which any citizen ot the Empire could be guilty, and so far as he was concerned he would certainly not recommend Cabinet to comply with the request of the deputation. Further, in reply to Mr. Walker, M.P, the Premier stated that no opportunity would be given this session to amend the Military Service Act in the direction of exemption of members of Parliament irom military service

MIXERS' LEVY TROUBLE. Wellington, Last Night. A deputation representing the Runanga miners waited upon the Minister of Justice to-day. Mr E. O'Brien, who was epokesman, said that about twenty minora had refused to pay the Australian levy and there was trouble right in the middle of trouble. A house was destroyed under suspicious circumstances, and a number of residents said that I.W.W. men were responsible for the fire, and decent miners had «>so been blamed for. it. The, deputation wished, therefore, to have an investigation into the circumstances of the fire. Tie twenty men who had refused to recognise the Australian levy represented to the authorities that they were in danger, and had been granted permission to carry arms for their protection. The deputation asked that these permits should be withdrawn.

The Minister promised hu would have Inquiries made into both matters. He could not promise there would be an official inquiry touching the fire until he obtained reports from his department.