MILITARY SERVICE AMENDMENTS.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 12 September 1917, Page 4

MILITARY SERVICE AMENDMENTS.

The Expeditionary Forces Amenilnieiit Bill, which was introduced in the House last night disposes of the burning question of conscribing the clergy. Provision is made ,for the exemption of the clergy, meaning, to'quote the Bill, "all ordained clergy of recognised churches and those ministers authorised to marry." There is a general feeling abroad that the work of the clergy, dealing as it does with the spiritual uplift of the community, entitles them to special consideration, although in European countries, the clergy' is sent into the firing line. Indeed, we have the testimony of that gallant Irishman and devout Roman Catholic, the p late Major William .Redmond, that life hostility > to the conscription of the clergy disappeared after his experience in the trenches on the Western Front and his association in the tiring line with the soldier-priests. Other clauses in the Bill deal with the'enlistmcnt of youths, of nineteen years of age, and the problem of the defaulters. ■ The weakness of the Government is revealed in the provision made for the voluntary enlistment of youths of nineteen years. It is an unfair provision in every way. If the youths are fit for soldiering the Government should plgce them" under the provisions of/the Act and couscrib: them, but to ask them to enlist'is

to reintroduce the pernicious principle of-voluntaryism despite'the' failure in the early days war. The~clauses of the Bill dealing with defaulters are long overdue, and we trust the military authorities and the police will pat a little more energy and, enterprise into the work of rounding up the thousands of deserters-who impudently ignore the cal'l to. the cb'l-. ours, Air Massey's measure, the Jlxpeditionary Force Voting Bill was also brought forward for its second reading last night, and its machinery clauses were strongly criticised. Evidently the Government is preparing for all possible cpiitiiigencie's-eyen for a general - ' election.