EXEMPTION POLICY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 8 June 1916, Page 5

EXEMPTION POLICY.

HOW FAR WILL IT GO?

v WELLINGTON, June 7. A most interesting point in the Compulsion Bill was clause 17, which the* House in committee reached to-night^ It gives means to appeal for leseryists called up. Mr Allen, in answering questions from several members regarding the scope of the exemptions^ said that obviously the Board woulcL have to consider the public interest indealing with professors, magistrates^ and school teachers. A certain ni-m----ber of the latter might be essential, so* they would remain. Regarding magistrates, the law must be carried on.

Mr Isitt: Won't it cause more unrest if any particular class is exempted^. The Minister: Once you put oneclass in the Bill you can nevex stop. The English authorities made that mistake, and they finally had the list*, co full that they had exempted nearly everybody, and had to recant. Mr Myers, Minister of Munitions, stated that only eighty had been., granted in eis_ montns, exclusive of: sixty-three marine officers essential iai carrying on the transport work of the* country. The exemptions comprised*, dairy. factories (4). freezing works (I),. dairying and freezing machinery engineers (5), transport engineers (8)» cable operators (15), wireless operators?. (8), and coal miners (10). Mr Rhodes (Thames): Why 6houlcfc, you exempt?

Mr Myers: A certain number mustsc be exempted to carry on the essential industries. Continuing the catalogue of exemptions, the Ministeradded : Medical student (1), dentist (1), bootmakers (5), woollen workers. (7), canning workers (3), iardware* wonkers on transports (2), miscellaneous (10).

Several members enquired how manyfarmers.

Mr Myers: None at all. Applications in a few instances came up for~ investigation, but it was not thoug&fci necessary to grant exemption. Mr Okey suggested that this woulctsatisfy Labor; farmers did not desire* . to shirk. Cheese factory directors wished to retain two experts; they would^employ women in other capacities, Biii some men were essentials Most of the Taranaki factory managers* were anxious to enlist, and they wera... young men.

Mr Allen stated that at present the--, difficulty was that the men's employershad secured exemption for the men, but the men refused, and then left that industry so as to get into camp. Mr Okey: Send them to dairy factories on State service.