TRAVELLERS’ PERMITS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14773, 29 November 1915, Page 4

TRAVELLERS’ PERMITS.

Fhk Minister of Internal Affairs, whose borough ness his worst enemy will not question, is spreading his net widely and apparently securely for the "shirkers" who want to get away from the Dominion in order to avoid the possibility of military service. He is placing special officers it all the principal ports and at several minor ports who will have to be satisfied by intending immigrants that they are lot. leaving the country merely to avoid bang their duty to tho Empire. Si mv he regulations authorising this step were ipproved by tho Executive some ten or twelve days ago, six or seven hundred applications have been received for travellers' permits, and it is said that quite a third of these are from men of military age who want to get away from Vuckland by the San Francisco boat next week. Opinions aro divided as to whether it is worth while keeping in Hie country ".shirkers" who have taken fright at the whisper of "conscription”; but Mr Rusadl thinks men who have enjoyed the protection of tlie State and prospered with its prosperity should not be allowed to run away when they may have an opportunity to make some return for the nrivileges they have enjoyed. Pul,];,, sympathy is entirely with the Minister in this view of the question,