ISSUE OF PASSPORTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2834, 27 July 1916, Page 5

ISSUE OF PASSPORTS

' A .QUESTION OF POLICY. _ln the House yesterday, Mr. W. H. liield the Minister of Internal Affi 8 :. Whether he lias, arrived at any definite decision or policy as to the issue ol passports or permits to.young men who bto anxious to enter the Imperial military service as motor-drivers or otherwise, tor whom positions thoro are already waiting, who are cither returned discharged as unfit for further ordinary military service, or hayo failed through minor physical defeots to pass the modical test for enlistment, and who, moved by ardent patriotism, are desirous, notwithstanding their disabilities, of takinc their share in tho death-strugglo in which* m^ 1 ?? 116 w at Present engaged? The Hon G. W. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs) replied: Some 60,000 able-bodied men have already gono to the front or are m training.- This drain on the manhood of New Zealand renders it necessary that every man of military age who is unfit for military service with our forces should be retained hero- for civil. service. Every returned soldier who applies for a passport or permit s granted one, it being considered ho has already evidenced . his patriotism. Men who have failed to pass tho. medical tests for military servico aro in most cases fit to take the places in civil life ot those who are passed and join tho torces. ' ,