UNDER AGE RECRUITS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17077, 28 January 1916, Page 9

UNDER AGE RECRUITS.

A recent complaint. With reference to a letter signed " An Anxious Mother," which appeared in Wednesday's issue, of the " Lyttelton Times," complaining - that■•- a son, aged 15 years, had ' b'eoii accepted '■' for 'activo service and passed as fit at the subsequent medical examination, despite tho mother's objection to her son's enlistment, a reporter learned yesterday at the, Defence Area Office that no lad under ago could get away to. camp if parental objections were raised. A-lad -might fill in his registration card and even pass his medical examination, but if any objection was made, he would be "passed but." There have been numerous instances of lads being dealt with in that way. The young patriots are notparticular about making inexactitudes regarding their ages when enlisting, and as it is impossible to ascertain their real ages, more especially as most of. the boys look older than they, really are, the military _ authorities can take no exception, to "the lads until, thenparents protest. In every instance, such protests have been, and will be, fully respected.