RIGHT OF EXEMPTION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 39, 9 November 1917, Page 4

RIGHT OF EXEMPTION

THE LAST REMAINING SON. Among tho provisions of tho Expeditionary Forces Amendment Bill, which was dropped by tho' Government owing to tho failure of t!io House of Representatives and the Legislative Council to agreo regarding tho exemption of teachers, was a clause providing that exemption should be granted in the case of any reservist who was tho last remaining son of his parents of military ago if three of his brothers had served or were serving with His Majesty's Forces during the present war. Tho loss of tho Bill entailed tho loss of this provision, which had been approved by both branches of the Legislature, but tho military servico boards hnvo been recommended by tho Government to take into consideration tho will of Parliament when thoy are dealing with cases that would have come within tho scopo of the clause.

Tho Military Sorvioe Act, 1915, provides that it shall bo a ground for exemption that a reservist is the sole surviving 6on of military ago of his parents and thnt nt, least one of his brothers has lost his life through nctivo servico during tho present war. This provision has been givon effect in certain cases. Ths reservist who can prove the requisite facts can claim exemption as a matter of right.