NON-COMS. IN CAMP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3142, 21 July 1917, Page 8

NON-COMS. IN CAMP

Sir,—l understand that it is the practice of tho Defence Department to allow conscripted men to enter training camps for n.c.o.'s and subsequently to obtain ii commission. This process is said to take abont eight months in camp in New Zealand. Novr it seems to mo that this is giving the real shirker 100 much rope altogether. I know of one man in my own district who has never tried to enlist— iii fact, ho has kept very much in the background, and people had almost forgotten his existenco until ho was called up in a recent ballot. Now I hear this young man has joined tho n.c.o.'a camp, which, as mentioned before, will serve the purposo of keeping him away from tho bullets for a vory considerable time longer. Should not the Defence Department appoint n.c.o.'s from men who have seen activo service, even if this entailed bringing a number nf men back from England and France? My point is Ihat the man. who has consistently dodged enlistment and practically beon called up in one of the la6fc ballots for.

First Division men should pot be allowed to still- dodge doing his bit at the trout. 1 say bring back men from .the ngntrng lino for commissions every time, ana ehip tho conscripted man to take W3 place.—l am, etc., .„„_ . ONLOOKER. Taranaki, July 19.