PRISONERS AND WAR SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9630, 10 April 1917, Page 2

PRISONERS AND WAR SERVICE

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.'' Sir,—l would like to ask you through your paper whether you consider it lair that a man should be exempt from Military Service because he is, or has been in prison. There are many men who do not favour the Military Service scheme, and would, if need be, go to extremes to defy it, therefore under the existing circumstances a shirker’s last resource would be to commit some crime and be put into prison, which would thus exempt him. from Military Service. On the other hand there are hundreds of line, strapping young men in prison in New Zealand who are willing anu anxious to fight for their Empire. Does the fact of them being in prison make them any worse then those not in prison. Wo have all sinned, none of us are pure. Looking at this question from a broad point of view there can bt only one thought—Will these men act as men if given a chance to stand side by side with the ordinary Cperson on the field of battle? For an ailswer to this question I will refer you to an article published in the Wellington “Times" on the 13th of last August. There the writer explains the number of men -well-known to the detectives of Scotland Yard who have been presented with tho V.C. for heroic deeds at the front. The time of taking vengeance on the law-bi-eaker Is past. The present aim is to help tho man, show him where he is wrong, and give him a-chance to work put his own salvation. Why don’t the public of New Zealand visit the prisons like they do in Australia and other parts of the world? I am sure if they did this, prejudiced feeling that exists with some would then bo cast aside. In conclusion I would like to say that I was drawn in the first ballot for Military Service at Wellington. Being in prison at the time, the Inspector of Prisons (Mr C. E. Matthews) appealed on my behalf, though certainly not with my consent; in fact, I knew nothing about the appeal being lodged until the evening of April 3rd, and tho appeal was to take place at 2.30 on the afternoon of the third. An appeal under these circumstances should not be tolerated. I should think that this is a question for the Military' Authorities to decided not an Inspector of Prisons, considering I am willing to do my “bit" for my country. What more can be expected of a man when he offers his life if need be for his Empire.—l am, etc., H.M. H.M. Prison, Auckland.