New Press Gang

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 November 1916, Page 2

New Press Gang

to LU.ih "IUWVJJJL.\U Lx' 1., u-u.i '1.ii.0... -■Sept 15, uu iliitUtiill Ljiut there ds to bo a.. iinmem.,to inouuioi.tiijii of tile present iiiU.ocx'»iu.ii..to syote.u of •'ruuna-iijg-iij,/ civilians 11 tlie hope of getting iiciu ol' uacxeuipted men oi military «ge mmo n.ro their duty. 'Hie ■•urives" ol tile past few days. Jiave ooou fi>.idufn.d jointly by the police ami the military authorities, and .■live U6iia.lv been directed: by Army oihco-rs; but any .further raids will p. ob..bJv bo carried out exclusively by the e.vil police, and detention wil. not be enfjiced except in eases wliere a genuine of <sirk.ng exits. A War Olfi.e notice issued <jii Tuts Jay explain.* the le.vson for the recent "rounding-up."' and .says that, so far as it Ims yet been applied, this test has d.sproveJ the allegations that large number of men have escaped registration and are thus evading servce. If the civil police over the duties of (.racing the shirkers it may be assumed that there will be no further marching of men in large numbers to the police stations. Satisfactory evidence of identity will probably be required fio:n men who cannot produce exemption or birth certificates, but on this being given the men will not be detained. Cal's can afterwards be made at the addresses given, and trained pol ice officers can usually tell whether they are being misled or not in the giv ng of a name and address.

On Monday morning Marylehonc Station, the terminus of the Groat Central llailway. was the s c;ne of a surprise "round-up,'" but it resulted in securirg oily o o ::ian. KI cwliere. in the country, there were a number of police court charges. the result of week end c'iall', ivies in place of public aimus;>meut, but 011 the tli" numb.rs obta'ned were ludiorpvsly out of pr.p'rtion to tlw efforts expended.