MILITARY SERVICE.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 17 September 1917, Page 3

MILITARY SERVICE.

EXEMPTION OF CLERaY. MARIST BROTHERS NOT AFFECTED. Several highly impprtant amendments in the law relating to tho New Zealand Army were contained in the Expeditionary Force Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the ■House of Representatives on Tuesday night by Vice-regal Message. Jucluded in the Bill is a provision to exempt from service priests and ministers of various churches, but the exemption does not extend to the Marist Brothers. In reply to a question Sir dames Allen said that Marist Brothers were not in Holy ! Orders, and therefore would not be exempted. With regard to boys of J9 it was proposed, to accept their enlistment for , active service provided they were medi- | cally lit and had their parents' consent. The liability to punishment of any persou who 'employed an unregistered reservist formed the subject of clause 5. Clause 6 would give the authorities power to call up without the necessity of a ballot the residue of any division or class of reserve which had not already been called up in a ballot. Clause 7 made provision for two members of the Military Service Board to be able to hold a sitting in the case of the illness of the third .member; but it was provided that in all cases the decision of not less than two members shall be the decision of the board. The next clause dealt with defaulters by providing that any man convicted of failure to enrol would automatically become a member of the force without the neces- , sity of the commandant sending him notice calling him up for service. Clause 0 abolished the limitation of six mouths within which informations may be laid for failure for reservists to notify change of address. Clause 10 extended the definition of ■the officer in the Defence Act, 1909, to include an officer on the retired list. This was necessary in order that such officers could be called upon for service on courts martial. The object of clause 11 was to subject members of the Expeditionary Force in time of peace to military law until they were discharged. The reason for this was that tlie authorities j should maintain control of soldiers j during the difficult period of demobili- j nation, which would'be a very anxious time for all. The last clause provided that men convicted of desertion, or of disobedience of the lawful commands of their superior officer, whether the offence was committed in New Zealand or elsewhere, and whether before or after the passing of this measure, should be deprived of their civil rights for 10 years.