The "Family Shirker"

Levin Daily Chronicle, 17 March 1917, Page 1

The "Family Shirker"

HOW iHE IS DEALT WITH. A BIG RESULT. • The total number called up under the ''Family Shirker" section (35) of the Military Service Act is 2851, 'and : the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) gave a Post reporter yesterday full particulars of how they have been dealt with. ' ' To begin with, he stated tliat 707' of the 2851 had been struck off for various reasons; 102 had not yet had notices served upon them. That left 2042 to be accounted for. First, as to the 707. Of these, 29 enlisted before the Act came into operation and 211 had enlisted since. Of these 136 were passed as fit, and 75 were turned down as unfit. In 302 cases the men were removed from the operation of the Act ow- 5 ing to the fact of their brothers liav-" ing enlisted.

Fifty-nine were drawn in the ballot, so that there was no need to serve notices upon them; 72 were represented under the headings of "Deaihs," "Over Age," "Uiider Age," or married men or men in gaol, etc. , ' . Thirty-tliree have not yet ' been found. As to the remaining 2042, there are in camp at present 403, and 116 are due to go into camp at definite dates. Forty-one have failed to report . for medical examination, and 366 are due for medical examinations; 20l are reported as medically uniit. In 393 cases appeals have been disallowed' of adjourned sine die, 519 have been adjourned "not yet disposed of," making up the total of 2042.

In regard to the balance, "not yet disposed of," it may be added that some of the notices have only just gone out. They will be dealt with as soon as possible.

"1 • think," said the Acting-Prime Minister, '"that the public ought to be satisfied that the Government has lost no time in dealing with the men who come under section 33 of the Act. I hope tlie result will 'be a feeling oif •general satisfaction in the Government's administration of the Act.'.'