HC Deb 31 October 1916 vol 86 cc1512-3
36. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men who had been previously rejected as unfit for the Army and who had not been asked to present themselves for re-examination before the 1st September have since received calling—up notices and been harassed in various ways; and whether he can take steps to instruct certain recruiting officers as to the law in this matter and to impress upon them the fact that their actions should be in harmony with the law?

Mr. FORSTER

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave the hon. Member for the Bridgeton Division of Glasgow on the 26th instant.

Mr. HOGGE

Will the right hon. Gentleman see at any rate that these men are called up and not arrested in the first instance?

Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

Where a man has been rejected and has not received a notice before the 1st of September and there is no dispute about the facts and he is called up, what steps must he take to get the calling—up notice cancelled?

Mr. FORSTER

It is the date of the dispatch of the notice and not the date of its receipt that counts.

Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

There is no dispute about the date.

Mr. FORSTER

In those cases the man in question will have an opportunity of making his case in Court.

Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

What steps does the man himself take to secure that when there is no dispute about the facts and he is called up, the notice will be cancelled?

Mr. FORSTER

My hon. Friend perhaps had better give me notice.

Mr. PRINGLE

Is it not the case that the man who knows his legal rights is let off, but that if he is ignorant you take advantage of his ignorance?