DEFAULTING RESERVISTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9794, 18 October 1917, Page 3

DEFAULTING RESERVISTS

HOW THEY HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH. In tho House of Representatives on Tuesday the Defence Minister made a statement showing the position, of cases of reservists transferred by tho Director of Recruiting to tho Director of Personal Services for disciplinary action up till September 29th. The figures were as follow: Number of cases found and referred back to Director of Recruiting ns the result of action by D.P.S. 2944. Number of cases still under investigation by D.P.S. 2560. Number of cases in which warrants have been issued and are still in hands of police unexecuted 295. In an explanatory note the Minister gave the following further particulars: Found as the result of investigation prior to gazetting 1895. Found as tho result of gazetting 959. Second dissection of cases found; Medically examined and sent to camp 661. Unfit 842. Total 1503. Already serving 472. Left New Zealand 257. Located in New Zealand, including in hospital, in prison, deceased, exemptions, seafaring in Now Zealand, miners, men who have voluntarily reported as result of gazetting, volunteers not yet in camp, over age and imdor age men 712. The warrants still outstanding numuer 295. In answer to a question the Minister said he would give the list of deserters in the next return, up to September 29th. He proposed to send a cony to every member of Parliament and to patriotic societies, with a view to discovering them. (Hear, hear.) In answer to Mr T. W. Rhodes, tho Minister said that in every case where a mistake had been made in regard to a man's position in the ballot list a correction was gazetted. Mr L. M, Isitt said there wore two or three brothers in tho South Island who could not be found. . Their land was being worked but they could not be found. Sir James Allen said that in some cases mistakes could not bo avoided. In regard to the case mentioned by Mr Isitt, the case had been before tho Cabinet and the House would have an opportunity of dealing with the problem when tho Military Forces Bill was under consideration, because tho member for Mata lira had an amendment on the Ordry Paper dealing with tho subject. (Hear, hear.)