"ROUNDED-UP."

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1917, Page 3

"ROUNDED-UP."

' REMARKABLE RESULTS AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, July 17. Tho most embarrassing feature of the raids oA Wellington reservists was the attention paid to tho theatres. All places of amusemont were visited at some time duriiig the evening, when every man going in, who w«s apparently’of military age, was required to account for himself. As most of thoso accosted were accompameu uy ladies, the situation was not an attractive one, hut it was handled with tact by thq police. Most of those concerned accepted it laughingly.* In the vestibule of tho Grand Opera House tho scene was not a little amusing. There each man in evening dross, with his lady on his arm, was brought to book. Most of them having changed their clothes had left their precious cemucates at, homo. There wore many blushes, much stammering,. and wu*t tho reservists felt was the most embarrassing, part of all was that thft blushos were not always their own.

The polico did not make organised raids to-day, but in a number of instances have been making individual inquiries of pedestrians in tho streets, which have had a stimulating effect. At the Police Court this morning, hthe spectators who had assembled there to watch tho proceedings were put through their facings themselves in the witnesses’ room. They were obliged either to produce their certificates or give their names and addresses for -future investigation. - The Government Statistician’s staff quickly felt the effect of tho raids in an avalanche of requests for certificates which have waited ma*ny weeks in post offices. Hundreds of Wellington mon hade personal application, waiting for hours in a long queue, while the clerks dealt slowly with tho unexpected business. Many of these were men who have left applying for their certificates'to th© last moment, and are n ow inthe greatest hurry to get them.