THE "BLACK LIST"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3134, 12 July 1917, Page 4

THE "BLACK LIST"

MEN WHO ARE NOT SHIRKERS.

Mistakes in the gazetted "bla:k lists" of men who have not responded to the> call to parade for medical inspection after having been drawn in the ballot are made occasionally, and in the Houte of Representatives yesterday Sir. M'Calliim, member for Wairau, asked that soma more inquiries slnuul lie made In .prevent the recurrence of these mistakes. He suggested that local authorities such as the patriotic bodies should, bo asked to make inquiries as to whether the men named were actually shirkers or not. He mentioned the iase of one man gazetted as a sldrker >vho bad been eighteen months in France, ard had there risen to the rank of sergeant. Sir. M'C'allum warned the Minister that probably an action for slander might lie in respect of such mistakes.

Sir James Allen said that the Department was doing all it could to make these lists as nearly perfect as possible, but it seemed to be practically impossible to make them perfect. The lists had been delayed until the last moment, in order that tho Department might find out whether certain men ought to be black-listed or not. He could only assure, the House that the Department was doing as much as it could. He would be very glad to extend the inquiries so long as it was not made impossible i > get the lists published. The object of tho list was to ensure that all First Division men went to the front before Second Division men were called up.