THE AGE LIMIT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3162, 14 August 1917, Page 4

THE AGE LIMIT

The members of the Second Division iu different parts of tho Dominion who havo mado public protest against the suggested reduction of the military age to nineteen years are to- bo congratulated on their action. They havo set an cxamplo to Ministers and to members of Parliament which cannot bo ignored, and which, indeed, if fchore is any serious intention to do this wrong to tho youth of the community, must carry great weight. There is a very unpleasant feeling about that the Govornmont has its mind too closely concentrated on the financial side of the Reinforcements issue to judge the situation fairly! Tho idea generally hold is that this suggestion about calling up boys of nineteen years has been thrown oub as a feeler because a section of Cabinet shirks the financial responsibilities which it must face if it deals justly with tho Second Division when tlie members of that division are called on for military service. It is not very flattering to tho National Government that this opinion should be so widely held, and the Prime Minister would be well advised to niake an early announcement clearly stating the Government's intentions. Of this ho and his colleagues may bo certain: that public sentiment is entirely opposed to any idea of sending boys to fight the battles of tho nation whon wo have an ample supply of men still availablo to do tne fighting. Tho time may come, though it is most unlikely, when wo may bo forced to fall back on boys to fill up tho ranks of our reinforcoments. But' it would, bo a shameful thing to conscript these boys now and send them in placo of the men merely because it would be cheaper and save the Government somo financial worry.