The Prime Minister then proceeded to show how more men
would be obtained. From munition works one hundred thousand fit men had been taken. Fifty thousand miners had been called up, and as many more would be required. All healthy men under twenty-five would be taken from the Civil Service. Exemptions on the ground of occupation would cease. The new Bill would raise the military age to fifty, and in special cases, such as medical men, to fifty-five. The older men were not necessarily destined for the fighting-line, but would release younger men in the non-com- batant branches of the Army and those engaged in home defence. It was expected that only seven per cent of the men between forty- two and fifty would be available for the Army—an ambiguous statement which has yet to be cleared up. The Minister of National Service would be given still wider powers of cancelling exemptions granted to young men, who would be excused solely on medical grounds. The Appeal Tribunals would be reconstituted by Order in Council, and the grounds of exemption would be made uniform. Ministers of religion who were of military age would be called up for non-combatant service.
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