SINGLE MEN AND ACTIVE SERVICE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16214, 17 May 1918, Page 6

SINGLE MEN AND ACTIVE SERVICE.

OUTSPOKEN COMMENT.

(SPECIAL TO "THE THESE.")

DUNEDIN, May IC. Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., chairman of the Military Service Board, made an emphatic response to-day to the general demand that all fit single men, irrespective of their responsibilities, should bo sent to the front. He said that it was an absurd if fascinating cry, emanating from unthinking people. It was absolutely opposed to all common-sense, and was entirely against the Board's policy. Tho people responsible for tho cry generally "talked without tho book. Tho Board had como across instances of single -men whose responsibilities .were greater than thoso of married men with largo families. Tho Board would continue to do its duty fearlessly and honestly, dealing with every case on its merits. He condemned tho action of the people who were sending anonymous letters to members of the Board.

Mr Bell (a member of the Board) said ho would take upon himself the responsibility of saying that there were a great many single men—some of whom had obtained exemption, and some of whom had laboured under far greater hardships than did many of the married men. He, as a member of the Board, absolutely repudiated tho contention that all single men should bo sent away, and if anyone wished that policy to be carried out, ho, for one* would refuse to do it. If the Government wanted the policy to be carried out, then they would Have to get others to carry it out. The cry, as the chairman had said, was a fascinating one. It looked all right in tho papers, hut if the people could follow tho evidence which came before the Board, and before the militarv rep«escntativcs, they' would find how impossible it would be to follow the principle. "When he (Mr Bell) saw undoubted cases of hardship amongst single men, even though Class E men of the Second Division were being sent, he would give his vote for exemption. 3lr Kollctt said he concurred with the views expressed by his colleagues.