UNTRACED RESERVISTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9795, 19 October 1917, Page 8

UNTRACED RESERVISTS

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.” * Sir, —It has been proposed that tho property of men who have failed to make good after they have been drawn in the ballot should be confiscated. In theory this may be a good measure. In practice it may be of no use at all., Li the first place tho chances are that very few of those men have any* thing worth confiscating or the loss of which they would seriously set against their freedom from service. I don’t think that needs any demonstration. There is, however, another point in connection with the matter to which I would venture to call attention. It is common knowledge that there is_a largo body of these untraced men In the country. I think it may fairly bo assumed as being a fact that very few of tho men have tho mean* to live without work for any period of time. It follows that they must either work, starve or loaf on friends. Leaving out tho starving, we have tho worker and the loafer. I should suggest that tho law be so altered as to subject to heavy penalties any man or woman who employs a person of military age without completely satisfying him or herself that that person has complied with his military duties. I should make the same provision, and it ought to be a stringent one, with regard to persons harbouring men ot military age who cannot show a clean sheet. One regrets that in this country, oi any other British one, there should bo found a considerable number, as there must be, of people ready to assist ablebodied men to avoid the military service which dire necessity hag made coir - pulsory. Those people are as guilty ns the practical deserters. —I am, etc., JUST MEASURE. Wellington, October lith, 1917.