THE AGE LIMIT

Southland Times, Issue 17736, 14 August 1917, Page 5

THE AGE LIMIT

FARMERS’ UNION PROTEST. MINISTERS’ REPLIES. At a meeting of the Farmers’ Union held on Friday a strong resolution was carried protesting against the suggestion that the military age may be lowered to 19 or 18 years. In accordance with instructions the secretary, Mr J. T. Prain, telegraphed this resolution to the Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Sir James Allen, and the Hon. J. A. Hanan, and he has now received the following replies : Your telegram of yesterday re military age received. Matter has not been considered bv Cabinet. Your representations duly noted.—W. F. MASSEY. Your telegram forwarding resolution to hand, and representations will have fullest consideration.—J. G. WARD. Every consideration will be given to the representations made in your telegram of yesterday regarding the reduction of the military age for sendee with the Expeditionary Force to 19 years.—J. A. ALLEN. Your telegram received and contents noted. Your representations will receive my consideration when the question is being dealt with by Cabinet.—J. A. HANAN. FEELING IN WELLINGTON. POLITICIANS GENERALLY .HOSTILE. MINISTERS REMAIN RETICENT. REDUCTION TO 18 POSITIVELY DENIED. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, August 13. The report that the Government.intended to ask Parliament to sanction a reduction of the age limit for conscription to nineteen is a very general topic of conversation in Wellington. Many strongly worded letters in opposition to the proposal continue to appear in the papers, and the general opinion among members of Parliament seems to be that the reasons to be placed before them in justification of the reduction will have to be very imperative and convincing to induce them to agree to the suggested change. One of those who will be immediately affected if the limit is lowered to nineteen years, states in a letter to the Dominion that many youths of nineteen are physically fit, and says he voices a general desire when he asks: “Not that petitions against the amendment be presented, but that a very high medical standard be fixed.” In a footnote to this letter the editor states: “No doubt many youths of 19 would be glad to offer their services. That however is not the question. The question is whether it is necessary or advisable to send boys when we still have an ample supply of men.” Ministers arc very reticent regarding the intentions of the Government, and decline to make any statement at present. The position is this. The Minister of Defence, acting on the recommendation of his military advisers, has asked Cabinet to sanction the insertion of a clause providing for a reduction of the age limit to 1-9 in the Bill which is to be introduced dealing with various phases of the recruiting problem. The matter has been informally discussed by Ministers, but no decision has yet been reached. The military authorities point out that in Britain, Canada, and Australia, youths of 18 are sent into camp, and express the opinion that New Zealand might with advantage fix the age at 19. They hold that young men of nineteen would prove more useful at the front than the majority of the men who form the Second Division. It is also pointed out that a youth who went into camp on his nineteenth birthday would be well on to twenty before he reached the firing line. The Prime Minister is not prepared to make any public announcement just now. He says that no Minister can say what the Government will do until Cabinet has officially declared its mind. He asserts that the proposal to reduce the age limit to 19 has not yet been formally approved by Ministers in Cabinet.

The possibility of a reduction to eighteen has been mentioned, but Mr Massey states most positively that there is no probability whatever of such a course being adopted.

The opposition to the conscription of 19-year-old lads which is being shown throughout the Dominion must be of interest to the Government. It has enabled Ministers to feel the pulse of the people, and may cause them to reconsider the whole matter. Whatever preliminary steps may have been taken can be retraced, but whether, they will be retraced is quite another matter. The conviction persists in well informed quarters that when the Bill makes its appearance a reduction of the age limit to 19, though with modifications and safeguards, will be provided for. CENTRAL EXECUTIVE’S REPRESENTATIONS. STRONG DISAPPROVAL EXPRESSED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 13. The Central Executive of the Federated Second Division Leagues passed a resolution: “That this meeting, speaking in the name of the Federated Second Division Leagues of New Zealand, records its emphatic protest against the rumoured intention of the Government to lower the age of conscription to nineteen; expresses strong disapproval of any impression being allowed to go forth that New Zealand has had to fall back on the young lads of the country in order to carry on its part in the war, as such would be absolutely contrary to fact, and a deplorable indication of official mtejudgment, and further the League calls upon the Government to turn a deaf ear to all counsels of timidity inspired by financial interests, and legislate without further delay for adequate provision for the dependents of soldiers, so that the Second Division men may immediately set about preparing for active service.” BOROUGH COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION. WELLINGTON, August 13. The Petone Borough Council to-night passed unanimously a resolution protesting against the age limit under the Military Service Act being reduced to 19. SECOND DIVISION PROTESTS. WAIKIWI BRANCH SUPPORTS EXECUTIVE. At a meeting of the Waikiwi branch of the Second Division League held yesterday, it was resolved: “That this meeting of the Committee of the Waikiwi branch of the Second Division League cordially endorsee the action of the Executive of the League in protesting against the rumoured reduction of the military age to 19 years, and trusts that all branches throughout the district will support the Executive in demanding fair play for our immature lads.”