MATTER BEFORE PETONE COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 38, 14 August 1917, Page 3

MATTER BEFORE PETONE COUNCIL

GOVERNMENT CRITICISED,

Pursuant to notice, Councillor M'Kenzie moved, last evening, at the Petone Borough Council: —

"That this council strongly protests against the Government reducing the age limit, under the Military Service Aot, to boys of 19 years of age. They are- not men physically, and their todies are not matured, and are consequently not fit for the severe strain they shall have to endure on the battlefields. The result arising therefrom will be more detrimental thara beneficial."

The Government, he said, was frightened of the voting power of members of the Second Division who had votes and desired to sheJter behind the immature boys who had no votes. They also \rere afraid to tackle the extra financial burden involved in the calling up of the Second Division. He favoured rather Taising the age to 23. Men of 50 were, better able fto go into the firing-line than boys of 19. A Colonel at Gallipoli, who had lost his boy, said: "Don't send any more boys; send mature men." 'Councillor Churchouss seconded the motion, and said he did not agree with the mover that the boys of 19 were not fit for sustained effort, and gave instances of what boys had done. He objected to the Government putting off the evil day of sending the Second Division. The Government was saving the pockeits of its supporters, and was afraid to face the increased demands of members of the Second Division for their dependents. The Government had had plenty of time to consider the.age limit when it was originally fixed, and that fimit should be adhered .to. There were still men of the Mrst Division who should be sent. There was no man in the country who could not he done without, and no one should be exempted.

Councillor Cox said as long as there were men of the First Division exempted the age limit should not be altered. He did not agree with the Minister of Defence, but Sir James Allen was one of the hardest worked men in New Zealand, and he had done his best.

Councillor Newla-nd said that no one to whom the country would not grant a vote should be sent to fight. If boys of 19 were not entitled to vote they should not be compelled to fight.

The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) said many boys, were fully developed at 19. He knew one lad of 17 who >had left early in the war, and he was to-day "as fit as a fiddle." The point was that there were in the country 245,000 males of military age, aiid if half were put aside as unfit it left 122,000 to be sent. Eighty thousand had gone, and there should be still' 42,000 available. Until these were exhausted the age limit should not be altered. The Government was afraid to face its responsibilities. In hie reply, Councillor M'Kenzie asked why boys with life before them should be allowed to sacrifice themselves while those with life behind them escaped. . The motion was carried unanimously.

(BI TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN. 13th August. A meeting of the National Welfare Association of Dunedin at Ravensbourne to-night \ passed motions, protesting against the reported intention of the Government to call up boys under 20 for military service.