MORE HOME TIES

Evening Star, Issue 16195, 17 August 1916, Page 2

MORE HOME TIES

A worker at Woolwich Arsenal, living at Wembley, asked for exemption on the ground that he had a sow and eight young which he could not leave."—Various daily papers. May 17. . As this was a peculiarly distressing case, the details may be worth recording. Applicant asked for total exemption partly on the ground of domestic hardship, partly on that of conscientious objection. The Government having made no provision for dependents of this class, he would, if called up for military service, be compelled to break up his .piggery and destroy their stye life. Ho could not reconcile this with his conscience.

The Chairman said our national fortunes were in such a crisis that even men with pigs must go.

Applicant said he would be prepared to go when all the men without pigs had been taken first. It was a hard thing for him to have to go now, when he could still see plenty of pigless shirkers about the streets. Member of Tribunal: Do you mean to say you have so little spirit .that you would let another man fight for your pig? Asked if the pig wero entirely dependent on him, applicant said it would break her heart if he wero taken.

The' military representative having protested on the ground of not bona fide, applicant said ho had had the pig before the war. Evidence was produced showing that the pig had been in his possession on June 1, 1914. It was added that she was of national importance, and that she had several relatives in the Berkshires, while many others were engaged in field service at home. Exemption was granted on condition that applicant's feelings towards the pig remained unchanged.—A.Y.C., in the 'New Statesman.'