AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17329, 18 November 1916, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS.

POSITION UNDER MILITARY SERVICE ACT. Tho presence of Australian shearers in New Zealand for tlie shearing season has brought, into prominence, their position under the Military Service Act Section 33 of tho Act- provides that everv man enrolled becomes a member of a division by attaining the age of twenty years, or by “ becoming a resident 'in New Zealand.” The question i 3 whether Australian shearers, who are here to-day and gone to-morrow, are residents. The Hon G. W. Russell slated yesterday that the Department of Internal Affairs, on the advice of tlie Grown, Law Officers, would not regard cither a shearer or a slaughterman who came to the Dominion in order to take P a rt in his vocation -as a resident. It is stipulated, however, that he mush bring credentials to satisfy the Department that he lias come for a particular purpose, with the intention of returning to Australia, to work at his vacation there. In these circumstances the Government intends to issuo permits to certain men to euablo them to return to their own countries. The Government is in communication with the Commonwealth Government on the subject.