§ Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state his reason for ruling that men who attempted to volunteer for service but were rejected as medically unfit, and were afterwards called up under the Military Service Art, cannot be considered as volunteers for the purpose of demobilisation; and whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in the country with regard to this matter?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI regret that after careful consideration it has not been found practicable to adopt this proposal. The examination of the evidence in such cases would involve a considerable staff and the evidence would often prove valueless. Moreover, many men have not documentary evidence to show that they were rejected as medically unfit. In any case under the existing Regulations the only difference involved in the latest date fixed for demobilisation is a matter of one296W month for men called up before the 1st July, 1917, and six weeks for men called up before the 1st July, 1918.