ON THEIR TRACKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1915, Page 2

ON THEIR TRACKS.

AFTER THE SHIRKER*. MINISTER PROMISES THEM A SURPRISE. Christchurch, Saturday. The chief worry of the Department of Internal Affairs just now is the men who hav* deliberately failed to register under the national registration scheme in order to escape obligations. They are already branded as shirkers, and it was this word that the Hon. G. W. Russell used this morning when he told Press representatives what he intended to do to these men. "Many of them, I think,' he said, •'will have a surprise before they are much older.'' Ho did not state what form the surprise will take, as disclosure of the secret would spoil the effect, but he explained that private persons in different parts of the Dominion have been asked to forward confidential lists of men who come under the registration scheme. When these lists are received, the registration cards in the departmental offices in Wellington will be searched. Inquiries will follow, and then will come the unpleasant surprise for the shirkers. Mr. Russell's department has received voluntary offers of help from private citizens, but care has been taken in accepting it, as the information on the schedules is strictly confidential. It is not possible to disclose even the name of a man who has registered, or to announce whether he has registered, or not. Those who are helping the Government in discovering the shirkers, consequently, are merely asked to forward lists containing the names of men who should be registered. The Department will verify the statements set out, and (lien will take steps against those who have failed to register About seventy officers are engaged in the work of classifying (he registrations The work is going on well, and Mr. Russell believes that a valuable record of the Dominion's manhood will be established when the facts are all sorted. In (he meantime, as stated nltove, ho is nut after (he shirker, and is keeping up his sleeve a genuine surprise ;',,;- ijr.it