Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd, 1917. THE NATIONAL SERVICE ACT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1917, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd, 1917. THE NATIONAL SERVICE ACT.

When the National Service Act was passed the Minister of Defence stated that there would be no exceptions and that the only men of military age exempt from military service would be those who were physically unfit, and even these would be called upon ItV- do some form of home service. How has this assertion been borne out in actual practice? The exempted classes are steadily increasing, and if the list is further, added to the men eligible for military service will be very small indeed. There is no doubt that many of those who have received exemption have good grounds for being so treated, but if the manpower of the Dominion had been carefully organised and classified there would he no need for any-

: one seeking’ exemption. If the ( Government had in .their possesj si on. full details of every man’s I capabilities they would be able to place him where he would be of most service to the State. -Every-, one must suffer some hardships and inconvenience at a time like the present, but the . authorities should try and make everyone share the burden alike. Theposition of,the clergymen of all denominations ’ should cause no trouble whatever, Xu every Christum country ministers of religion are looked upon as non-com-batants, and the fact that art the present time* French priests and ' clergymen are 'fighting in the trenches is due to the circnm- ' stance that the Government of the ( day has endeavoured to make the , separation between -Church and.

I State as complete as possible, and i it therefore refuses to recognise the Church’s rights in any matter. If the people of New Zealand were properly organised the authorities would he able to select from the clergymen of each denomination the number 1 required as chaplains, and of the remainder a number should he selected sufficient for home service and the renlainder given positions in the ambulance and other non-combatant branches of the service. There would then be no cause for the 1 present outcry against clergymen being selected by ballot to serve in the trenches as combatants. The pre-

'sent system is causing a 'vast amount of ilLieeMng a’nd will do the Empire’s cause no good. With a proper classification t-ach man would know his place and be able to take it with the least possible delay and the minimum of * friction. The National Service Act was framed to meet ini emergency, and the ground to be covered was quite unknown. It is, therefore, only to be expected that defects will make themselves evident. The Government should get to work and try and remedy the weaknesses that now exist. I'Vee and open discussion of the question should he invited. The postulate from which all critics can start is that everything must he done to win the war and everyone who hinders tin's in any way is'a traitor.” The criticism that should be levelled at the National Service Act should not he of a destructive" nature. It should he rather that of a kindly critic who, seeing defects in some work, points them out and shows how they can best be remedied. _ Let the clergymen of the Dominion hold a conference ami/draw up a scheme for submission to the Government, showing how the services of each minister can he utilised so that his work will be of the greatest benefit to the Empire, and yet not interfere with his conscientious scruples. A little common sense on both sides will do much to clear, away seemingly insurmountable .difficulties. No one must expect that rules and regulations that can bo observed ■ in times of peace can he carried into effect during a war such as, the present. Everyone must he ' prepared to make some sacrifice. The example of the Hindu soldiers who came to France with the* Indian troops is worthy of imitation. No rules are so strict and binding as the caste and ceremonial observances of the Hin- , dns, yet when they left India +hev swore that they would even allow , these to be broken if a too strict , observance interfered with their i ,gaining the victory. Those who are following the reports of The sittings of the Military Appeal Boards will notice that the number of appeals is rapidly decreasing. This is to be -expected. When the courts first sat everyone who wished to escape military service attempted to find a way out. Experience has shown that no one who has not very strong grounds for claiming exemption need waste his time appearing'before the Board. Nevertheless, we still maintain that if the people were properly or minified and classified there would he no need for a ballot and no need for military appeal boards. Think of the thousands of pdunds that would have been saved if this course had been adopted.