From the News

Dated: November 15, 1917

HINDUS DON'T WANT TO BE CONSCRIPTED

Refused Entrance to Canada - No Vote - "Brutally Deprived of Rights."

Vancouver, B.C.  Nov. 14.--Claiming that they had not been accorded full rights as real citizens of Canada, and that they had been "brutally deprived of the lawful and natural rights of humanity," and that for these reasons they should be exempted from compulsory military service, a deputation representing the Hindus of Vancouver waited on Provincial Registrat Lennie under the Military Service Act.

The deputation presented a petition emphasizing their loyalty and setting out their grievances; they had no right to vote:  their wives and children were refused entrance to the country; they were not being treated as human beings.

Registrar Lennie told the deputation he could not alter the law on their behalf, and they must report for service if in class one.  Nearly one hundred men will be affected of the 600 or 700 Hindus here.