MILITARY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 51, 28 February 1918, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE

10 THS EDITOR. Sir,—A number of letters have appeared in your columns lately on the question of injustice to the reservists of the First Division and concessions to those of the Second Division., Ido not wish to question the loyalty and keenness of the members of the latter division to serve their country, but I would like to make a comparison of their treatment to ours of the First Division. Take my own. case as an example. In May, 1915, I enlisted and was rejected, my medical examiner informing me that I was far below the standard required by the Defence Department. Six months afterwards I was married, under the impression that I would not be required for military service. Later on the Military Service Act came into operation, and I was called up in the Bth Ballot. I would like to point out here that previous to this a great many men were being "turned out" of camp as. "unfit," and after a lot of public discussion as to what the standard should be to claes a man r.6 "fit," the military doctors adopted a more rigid examination. Under thisnew and more severe standard I was examined and again rejected. I then thought that, having, been twice "turned, down," the military authorities would have been finished with me; but such was not to be, for I have recently received notice that I am to be called for v re-examination. The possibility is that ■I may be sent to Cl Camp, with a "three to two" chance of going through to the reinforcement camp. The Defence Department state 40 per cent, are rejected from Cl Camp, but they do not state how many of, the remaining 60 per cent, actually leave New Zealand. Why are we married men of the Frist Division subjected to all this uncertainty? Those of the Second Division classed C 2 are not to be re-examined. Why not treat us the same way? Why are my wife and child not; entitled to the same treatment ns if. I belonged to the Second Division? Surely I am a 6 loyal as most members of that division, although I was..married in war time, but before doing so I followed the call of duty and enlisted first. Why continue to treat me and others in my p&sition as "shirkers" who married to evade service? We have surely been i kept "hanging on" long enough. The ! Defence Department ought t£ have dealt with us finally and let us "now. where we stand.—l am, etc., FIRST DIVISION. ,