CONSCRIPTION TO BE ADOPTED IN CANADA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 120, 21 May 1917, Page 5

CONSCRIPTION TO BE ADOPTED IN CANADA.

ANOTHER 100,000 MEN WANTED FOR FRONT. OTTAWA, .May 20. Speaking in the House of Commons the Prime Minister. Sir Robert Borden, announced that the system of the selective draft would be adopted in Canada to provide from 50,000 to 100.000 men to reinforce the divisions at the front. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Leader of the Opposition, promised the Opposition, would give the same consideration to the Government's conscription proposals as it had given to other war measures. He said he ngrecd that Canada should do her utmost till victory was achieved.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

RESERVE DIVIDED INTO FOUR CLASSES.

PROBABLE EJfIJSTMT,NT OP 100,000 MEN.

(Received IO.IIfI a.m.)

OTTAWA, May 20. The selection under the conscription scheme will be made by classes, it being understood that the divisions will be as follows: First, unmarried men of from 18 to 25; second. 25 to 35; third, married men from IS to 35 without dependents; fourth, married men with dependents. Exemptions will be made in important industries, but there will be no class exemption. Credit will be given in districts which have already made large voluntary contributions. Sir R. L. Borden's conscription announcement caused no surprise to the country. The demand for some form of compulsion has been voiced by nil representative bodies. The Premier said that it had become apparent that the voluntary system had not yielded the substantial results hoped for. He recognised that the responsibility of enforcing conscription was serious, but be did not shrink. They required to maintain the strength of Canada's lighting units not less than fifty thousand and probably a hundred thousand.—(Renter.)