HESITATING FAMILIES

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 32, 7 August 1916, Page 8

HESITATING FAMILIES

LAW TO BE ENFORCED.

In the House of Representatives to-day Mr. J. Anstey asked the Prime Minister a question in regard to the operation of the Military Service Bill. It was understood, he said, that the compulsion clause of the measure would not be brought into1 operation while volunteering oontinued to meet the need for reinforcemens, but there was one clause—clause 34, regarding families from which no members had enlisted, which was to be enforced before that date. It would be as well for a statement to be made on that point.

The clause in question provides that if the Minister of Defence is satisfied with respect to any family, that it consists of, or includes two or more brothers, who belong to the first division, and who are not permanently unfit for military service, he may, at any time after the enrolment of the first division, give them notico to show cause to the Military Service Board, why they should not be called upon for service with the Expeditionary Forces.

Tho Prime Minister said he could not say that tho clause would be put into operation to-morrow or next week, but it would be enforced as soon as it was possible to. make tho necessary arrangements.