MILITARY DODGERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1917, Page 3

MILITARY DODGERS.

BOUNDING THEM UP. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, Feb. 20. The Defence authorities have allowed it to be announced to-day that at last they are ready to enforce the Military Service Act against the objectors, resisters, laggards and so forth. Just how many men Have failed to appear after being drawn in the ballot and directed to present themselves for medical examination and training is not disclosed, but the number admittedly is large enough to be important, and these men have been able up to the present time .to defy the law with impunity. Some of them, indeed, have openly boasted that they did not attend to do their duty. Compulsion would have been aplied some time ago had not orders been issued that the officers in charge of the work were to proceed warily, A loophole in the Act had to be closed by regulation, and then some rather startling facts were "disclosed in the couse of a careful examination of the lists of defaulters. The records showed, for example, that a certain man 'had been drawn in the ballot, notified of the fact by registered letter and later notified, again by registered letter, to present himself for medical examination. The man had made no response. The registered letters had been accepted and signed for at his address. A prima facie case for the immediate issue of a warrant existed. But investigation showed that the man was dead, and that the letters had been accepted and retained unopened by a boarding-house keeper who had not" heard of the. late lodger's death. This is an exceptional case, no doubt, but it illustrates the Department's reasons for caution. Two warrants have been issued in Wellington up to the present time. They were to have been executed to-day, but the pobce have failed so far to find either of the men, who appear to have taken cover. Other warrants are to be issued soon, and the responsible officers state that they are going to proceed firmly with the mustering of all. the defaulters. But it is easy 'to See that the task is going to prove both big and difficult. It has not been rendered less difficult by the delay that has already taken place.

When a reservist has been drawn in the baiiot or summoned unebjr Section 35 of the Military Service Act, he is notified by tlie Defence authorities to present himself for medical examination at a certain time and pice. If he is passed fit, he is directed later to parade it the headquarters of his recruiting district in order that he may be taken to camp. Some of the men do not respond to these calls, but the authorities do not assume at once that such .men are defaulters, since there is the possibility that the. notices may not have reached the individuals for whom they were intended. The Defence Department is arranging to publish a list of men who are not yet accounted for in order that there may be no excuse for misunderstanding." Provision is made for the publication of such a list in Clause 13 of the Military Service Act, which reads as fob lows:—

Every man who lias been called up for service with the Exncditionnry Fqrce under this Act may be. required from time to time by the Commandant, by notice in the Gazette, to report at any time and place; and if he fails duly to present himself at the .place and time so notified (or in ease of sickness or other unavoidable impediment, then at the same place and as soon as possible after the time so notiiied) he may be tried and punished under the Army Act for the offenee of desertion or of absenting himself without leave, as the ca=emav be. *

The publication of this list in the Gazette will serve a double purpose. Lt will :be a final notice to the men concerned that they must present thenselves for medical examination or for such other purpose as the Commandant thinks lit: and it will at the same time in Win the community generally that certain reservists whose names have already appeared in the list of ballotted men have not yet discharged the duties required of them. HOW FIRESTONE TYRES are MADE. These "double-distance" Tyres are made from pure up-river Pari Rubber and finest Sea Island Cotton Fabricboth the finest obtainable. But how they are made is a Firestone secret, •irestone chemists have special formu-has-blends that make Firestone Treads Cushion Layers, Breaker Strips and hide Walls absolutely unequalled for toughness, beat resistance and milea-e capacity. Firestones have extra quality m seven places-they give "most mile's tor tho money." Use Firestones! If the garage ea.n't supply, get particulars from A. Ilatrick and Co., Ltd., Wan-a-nui and New Zeahfnd agents. i, THE BEST WAY TO MANAGE BAGGAGE. "Old ways remain until someone in-' .Vents better methods." Our system of cheeking baggage is the latest 'and best way. It saves passenger all U~.ble at departure and arrival. We collect, check on, and deliver baggage as soon as it arrives. Show us your ticket, or get us to issue it, It facilitates check-