DEFAULTING HUSBANDS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3160, 11 August 1917, Page 7

DEFAULTING HUSBANDS

THEIR STATUS UNDER CONSCRIPTION LAW. The classification of the Second Division does not provido for those men who do not properly discharge their liabilities to their families. Mr. Parr, referring in the House to these men, asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of tie fact that, according to the Government Statistician, there were a number of married men in New Zealand registered m the Second Division who did not live with or in any way support their wives and families, he would take steps to have these men who completely neglect their responsibilities to bo classified on'the same level or grade as members of tho First Division. Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence) replied: The' question of amending the classification of the Second Division of the Reserve in order to place the married men referred to by the honourable member in Class A, which will be the first class of the Second Division to be called up for service, is now under consideration. They could, not be transferred to the First "Division without an amendment of the Military Service Act I would point out, however, that the Government Statistician has no knowledge of the Second Division Reservists who come within this category, and if tho classification is amended as suggested abovo ho will have 'to rely on information furnished to him bv the men concerned or by local recruiting committees in order to classify them.