Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1916. MILITARY SERVICE ACT.

Nelson Evening Mail, 17 November 1916, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1916. MILITARY SERVICE ACT.

IT would' be unfair to.state that all opponents of compulsion are disloyal. But all loyal anti-conscript ionists must be enthusiastic supporters of voluntaryism. The man who is prepared to fight for his country has nothing to fear from compulsion. In the great majority of cases he welcomes' it for the reason that it tells him just exactly where, his duty lies. There are few indeed who are not prepared to enlist in- their turn. What compulsion does is to point cut when a man's turn has come. Therefore, in such a war as this is, where the whole manhood of the nation that can be spared will be required to take up arms. compulsory service i.s the only business-like method for securing recruits. It is a very fine thing' for New Zealand to have sent over 70,000 men away under the voluntary system, but when we get clown to hard facts, itcannot be denied that some of those who have gone should have been replaced bv some who are still in civil !;i'e, and for this the nation is so much the poorer. And so. with the coming into operation of compulsion, there is the undeniable fact that the whole system of enlistment is being placed on a sure and certain basis, and in. future New Zealand will pursue its war work' in the manner best suited to tne interests of the eountr.y That is to say, men will be sent, according to the manner in which they can be spared. Every effort has been made to administer the system with absolute fairness and impartiality. As is only right- and just, the manhood of the country'has been divided into two great division, determined by the decree 01 familv responsibility, which affects rich and poor alike. It will be remembered that. the. -First Division consists of the following:—(1) Unmarried men. i(i2) -Married men, whose marriage took place -subsequently to the first day of March. Vdls, except such as have a child under 16 years of age by. aprevious marriage. (3) Widower s witn no children under 16 years of age. , {4) Men whose marriage has been dissolved, or who. are judicially- separated from their wives, and who have no children under 16 years ot age. •Every man selected by. the ballot will 'have*to pass a medical examination, and in the event of his passing will have the right to appeal for exemption on the ground that by reason of his occupation his calling up for service is contrary to ■the public interest; that by reason of his domestic circumstances or for any other reason his calling up for military service will be a cause of undue hardship uo himself or others. Further, there ut a. clause of restricted application for religious objectors, who may be

excused from bearing wins. but

may be called on to serve in a- non-combatant capacity. It will be sesn that the Act has been very careful!?, framed, and it is intended that those men of the First Division who should stay behind, will be exempted. Very great responsibility! rests upon the .Military Service Boards in correctly determining t..e genuineness, or otherwise of claims for -exemptions, but the Hoards have been very carefully chosen, with an experienced Magistrate as chair-man. and doubtless all evidence will be most carefully weighed, and- each case decided on rits merits. But ..while- the compulsory clauses of the Military 'Service Act will joperate automatically where deficiencies iexist in any of the military districts, 'there, will be the opportunity to ooiist voluntarily. Nelson, with .Auckland and Wanganuf, is in the unique position of being one of three-districts not requiring the ballot for the 23rd or 24th Heiu- ' forcements. This is certainly creditable to the manhood of the military district, which includes Marlborough ; but at the same time it must he admited that itherc are men of- the First Division with no particular eaves, who say that a.s conscription js.3iow the .law of the land i theyi .will- await- their turn.- i These men

an' not, ,;-li.i>-.kVr.R in theordinary sense of tin- .tcjin. At tin-, saim' time, tin'.* is n<>! I !h- best way of viewing tin- quesiiou of enlistment by those wiio v.i-c not loaded with family raves. UlK [ the>- would bo doing bolter by eniistin- si:ai2;ht awav.