§ MR. W. HAZELL (Leicester)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the fact that a large number of boys enlist falsely stating; their ages as over 18, he will explain why 843 the War Office considers that it is impracticable to insist upon recruits producing certificates of birth, while certifying surgeons under the Factory Act, 1878, Section 27, have power to require such certificates, and do regularly obtain them, when young persons apply for employment in a factory?
§ MR. BRODRICKMany men who desire to join the Army would find great difficulty in obtaining certificates of birth. To insist upon their production would mean the loss of many men to the Army. The number of young men who give false ages on enlistment is not large, and is annually decreasing.