MILITARY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1916, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE.

MANY APPEALS COMING TO •HASSty' •Wellington, Nov. *. Several hundreds of appeals from men who have received notices under clause % of the Military Service Act are now, In the hands of the Defence authorities. T'ho appeals are coming to hand rapidly, and it is clear that there is going to be plenty of work for the Military ServiM Boards. The chief ground for appeal appears to be "undue hardship," thoughv physical unfitness is alleged by a number of the men. Notices under clause 35 are still being sent out, as the mines of additional men believed to fall within the scope of the clause are recorded by the Defence Department. Dates for the sittings of the Military, Bervico Boards have not yet been fixed, ' The Medical Boards constituted undOT the Military Service Act are beginning' their work'this week. Sittings wffl-V held in iPalmerston North' and Chriet* ihurch to-morrow for the hearing of ap> plications for exemption on the ground of physical unfitness. Many mart appear to be under the impression stillt ; that if they can prove physical unfitness for service with the Expcditionarj. Forces they will he relieved from furtlicr liability. That is not the easts. The Act provides for service of any 1.-'md connected with the war, and a man: who Ims been summoned under th<( compulsory clauses of the Act, and wha is found to be unfit in a military sense, may still be required to undertow home service if the Defence DepartnftriV has use for him. Protests have been made in some quarters against the'decision of the Be* truiting Board to close voluntary refruiting for the 23rd and 24th Rein* forccmonts on Saturday, next, Novemboj 11. It has been urged that this decision will prevent volunteers getting mnip at short notice at any time be* tween November 11 and the end of .Do* cember, since men enlisting during Mat' period will not be eligible for a drafl earlier than the 25th due to mobilise in January. This diflU culty has been considered by the IH' fence authorities, but tlTe alternative ol open enlistment appears to involve coav, fusion. The object of closing voluntary recruiting for the 24th Reinforcement; when the 23rd Reinforcements are about to be mobilised is to'allow a full mor.tli for ascertaining the prospective short* age, taking a ballot, and notifying tht, selected members of the first division. If volunteers were accepted for tha 24t!f Reinforcements during the latter part of this month and the beginning of next month, the extent of the shortage would ' not be known until the draft entered camp, and then there would be weeks' delav in iilling it. A possibility remains that ft ballot will not be required this month. Th< shortage on the 22ud Reinforcements was reduced last week, and the numbe; ol men required next week for the 23rc Reinforcemei'ts and the accumulated shortage will be 2383. Reports from tin districts indicate that probably no, fewer than 1100 recruits for the 23r< Reinforcements had been attested up tc Saturday evening, leaving vacancies ioi over 1200 men. A vigorous recruiting campaign is being prosecuted in all tin groups this week, and a certain numbei of men, possibly some 'hundreds* wilj become available within the next week or «• owing to the operation of elaus{ ut-y '■"'' '■ ■*