DEFENCE ACT ADMINISTRATION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue LX, 19 December 1913, Page 3

DEFENCE ACT ADMINISTRATION.

Reporting on the problems regarding the adminatration of the Defence Act, the Joint Committee of both houses recommends the Government to consider the advisability of placing religious and conscientious objectors on the same footing and allowing exemption from militaiy service on application to a magistrate, provided these objectors agreed to give adequate alternative service, while the supervision and control of the latter should be by the civil authorities, and should in point of time of personal attendance be equivalent to that required by compulsory military service under the Act. Persons rendering alternative service which involed the going into camp or residing away from home for some period should receive remuneration as nearly as possible equivalent to the amount payable for a like period in camp under compulsory military service. The alternative Bervice should take the form of some work for the public benefit. In respect to punishment, the Committee recommends that persons failing to give military or alternative service should be dealt with and punished by. the civil courts. The Government should consider the advisability of limiting or eliminating altogether the evening and half-day parades for members of any corps in which it may be found desirable of substituting increased attendance at camps.