MILITARY SERVICE.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 12 September 1917, Page 3

MILITARY SERVICE.

Ji EXEMPTION OF THE 'CLERGY,' '.■'), ' YOUTHS ACCEPTED'AS VOLUN- ■'■•:. \\ TEERS. ,; DEALING WITH DEFAULTERS. • ' (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON. September 11." ; ; In'the'House (his evening, the .Expeditionary Forces Amendment Hill was -. intrgiluced by Governor'..: Message. Tli'e" Hon. "Sir dames Allen said the chief clause in the P.ill was that providing for the exemption of the clergy, moaning 'all ordained clergy of reoog- ; nisetl cliuiehcs, and those ministers authorised to niar/y, The Maris; Brothers, not being ordained clergy, were not exempted. There was nothing in the Hill about the conscription of youths of n'ineteen, but they would be accepted as volunteers. One clause made' the offence of employing an unregistered- reservist complete on making a contract of employment. Doubt had previously existed as to whether there was a complete offence until after seven "'(fays'.' employment.' Power was taken

-.;-•-_» to call up the-residue of a class in the without the formality of the ballot, when all men in the residue were required. .Deserters would lose their civil rights for ten years, but the Government did not yet see its way- to confiscate .their property. /

'' VOTES FOR SOLDIERS, NORTH VERSUS SOUTH 'ANTAGONISM. (Per Press Association). •WELLINGTON, September 11. ~ The Prime Minister, in moving ihc •second reading of the Expeditionary Force Voting Bill, said that the most ■ important point to be provided for was ; ' the case of men in camp, otherwise all the Trenthara men would be counted in the Hutt electorate. What was proposed was to tako the total number of men'in the Forces, and allocate them to' various electorates, in proportion to the number of electors in each. Mr G, W, Pearce failed to see how the men could not be allotted to the actual district form which they came. The men in camps could well vote for their own districts. The proportional system was fair in the case of the men outside New Zealand. Mr G, J. Anderson suggested the allocating of a soldier to the electorate in which he had enlisted. ' Mr C. 11. Statham asked that if, in the event of an election, the soldiers at the front would be allowed to vote by • /proxy. . :.

Mr. A...W. Harris said', his.principal borough of' Dcvonport, on the-.system "proposed inlhe Bill, would he probalily credited with GOO men, whereas Devonport had sent 2,200 men. "How are we to know the men who will vote, in say, Cliristchureh North electorate?" asked Mr Poland. The Prime Minister explained that fhis 'was not the subject of the Bill, ' Every man would have an absolute right to vote in his own district. Mr G. Witty stated that on the night of the census over 2,000 South Island people were in 'Wellington. This was . probably going 10 cost the South Island :i seat, as it would increase the North Island population by many hundreds. Southern young men who saw the troops off from Wellington, enlisted there, which, under the Bill, would

cause a further injustice. Mr Massey; This Bill has nothing to

do with it. ' Mr E. Newman asked if the country quota was adhered to. Mr Massey: Yes. The Prime Minister stated that the House would have the opportunity of dealing with the-country epiota and other electoral matters before a general election came along. Mr P. GV Webb: Before the session is

Mr Massey: 1 won't say that, He admitted that there might be a slight injustice to the South Island, through a large number of southern vjsitors being in Wellington at the time of the census, but it was not likely to "have ■ a serious ■ consequence. The Bill had nothing to do with the method of the soldiers' vote, but on that subject he < believed the soldier should have an op- ■ jiortunity of voting for an individual rather than party. They voted for party on the last occasion, and it did ;,\. . not work out well. 'Mty Mr W, Veiteh: There is no party now. • ' Mr Massey: No. They would have to ': be wished if they would vote for the National Government or not. -The' second reading was carried on the voices.