MILITARY MATTERS

NZ Truth, 5 October 1918, Page 6

MILITARY MATTERS

Answers to Correspondents

Arrangements have been made with the Defence • Department to furnish reliable Information by which all reasonable inquiries may be answered relative to military matters, such as enrolment, appeals, pay, financial assistance, pensions, and so forth. All inquiries should be addressed to Editor "Truth," P.O. Box 574, Wellington. While every effort will be made to secure accuracy, "Truth" can assume no responsibility. Correspondents must send full name and address of persons referred to, as well as of themselves, not necessarily for publication, but to assist In the making of Inquiries and to prove their bona fides. No charge Is made, but no documents will be returned unless postage Is forwarded for this purpose. "Mother" (Gisborne): (1 and 2) Your ,son cannot enlist without your written consent unless he has attained the age of 20 years. If on attaining the age of 20 years he volunteers or is drawn m the ballot, you have the right to' appeal under section 18, sub-section 3, of the Military Service Act, but even m the event of the Military Service „. Board granting exemption the military authorities would be unable to deny your son the right to go into camp if ■ he declined to avail himself of the exemption granted by the Board. If he adopted this attitude you must then rely upon your personal influence over him; (3) A deceased soldier's mother is recognised as a dependent; for pur- ... poses of pension, if she was m fact wholly or partially dependent upon the earnings of the deceased soldier at any • time within the period of two years ■•■immediately preceding the date upon which he became a member of the Forces, or if she is not less than 50 .: years of age, providing she has not adequate means of support. "Sympathiser" (Christchurch): We have ascertained that a careful medical reexamination discloses no evidence of heart disease or injury, and the medical authorities believe that the case is one of neurosis only. This man has, however, been sent to Hanmer, where he will be ' under close observation. Your reference to him as a "boy" and "lad" are not consistent with his papers, which show him to be 35 years of age.