THE FIRST DIVISION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1735, 27 September 1917, Page 3

THE FIRST DIVISION.

0,000 MEN LEFT. The Minister of Defence stated in the House on Tuesday that there were only 9,000 left in the First Division. A member; You propose to call them up en bloc ? The Minister: Yes. Dr. A. K. Newman remarked that a lot of people wanted to know whether the single men were cleared up before the Second Division was called upon. As far as he could sec there was a large number of men belonging to the First Division who were going to escape. The Hon. Sir James Allen said that there were only 4,000 men who were not accounted for.

Commenting on missing defaulters, the Post says these are sufficient, if rounded up, for one complete Reinforcement draft! This is very far from being satisfactory, and justifies the public and members of Parliament in seeking the fullest information as to the methods that have been pursued in tracing these men. We think we are not far out in saying that too much reliance has been placed on overworked postmen and telegraph boys in finding these men, while the Defence Department itself has done little or no personal hunting on its own account. If the Department has done anything in the latter direction at all it has only been recently, and on a very minor scale. Evidence of this is furnished in the fact that only on one occasion during the many months the Military Service Act has been in operation have the authorities put Section 44 into force by requiring men to produce their enrolment cards. It is noteworthy also that on that isolated occasion the only places raided Avere a feAv hotel bars, theatres, and racecourses. From the facts, as avo Iciioav them, it is plain that there is a spirit of inertia somewhere, and that the position is not likely to be remedied until the cause is removed. With the rapid approach of the calling up of the Second Division, the public has every right to demand that the most vigorous action be taken, and with a promptitude which betokens sincerity. It is useless for the Minister to ask members of Parliament and the public to help if the authorities themselves are not applying the powers conferred upon them.