COMBING OUT.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1917, Page 2

COMBING OUT.

One of the measures undertaken by the Federal Director-General of Recruiting (Senator Mackinnon) is the “ combing out ”of eligible men in the _ employ of the Defence Department Senator Mackinnon has assed for a return giving the name?, ages and occupations of all tho Dafenco Department's employees. He will peruse this list, and will advise the Minister of Defence (Senator Pearce) what aotion he considers should be taken in the interests both of returned soldiers and of the recruiting campaign.

Particular attention will be paid to the staffs at offices where returned soldiers and their relatives congregate. Both the soldiers and their friends naturally object to strong, healthy men eligible for active service being employed in comfortable positions in Departments created On account of the war.

Tho Director-General is looking at the position as a recruiting difficulty, and he has urged that the information he desires should be given to him at the earliest onpoitnnity. So far as he is concerned the matter is being treated as one of urgency. Asked if he proposed to take similar action in regard to other Government Departments, Mr Mackinnon stated that he did not. The Defence Department was a war Department. Many of ita sections were brought into being beoause of the presence of Aus'.ralian nnits at the front, and returned soldiers had a right to demand that no eligible man who could possibly be done without should be imployed there,