ROUNDING UP DESERTERS.
The return presented to Parliament lassfe week regarding the disposal of the men drawn in the ballot shows that there must bo several screws loose in the Defence Office administration. For a long time past rumors have been in circulation regarding the number of men shirking their responsibilities in regard to military service, some estimates reaching well into the five figures. The return shows that of 49,588 men drawn in the first nine ballots the authorities have failed to locate 3121, while 9W have failed to concentrate when ordered, and have been posted as deserters. This gives a total of 3637 defaulters, sufficient after eliminating the unfit, for one reinforcement. These figures, however, do not take into account the number of those failing to register. It is known that the number under this head is not Inconsiderable. Only one endeavor has been made to check the unregistered, and then the authorities very kindly gave the shirkers ample notice of the day when the raids were to be carried out. heirot then nothing haß been done towards making the register complete and reliable. It may be that a good many of the men posted as deserters are already at the front or in camp, for the Department's checking system has proved lamentably unreliable. Still, making all allowance for this, it is no credit to the (Defence authorities that so many should be eluding them. In the past they have been relying a good deal upon the postal officers and the district defence officials, who are already overworked, and cannot give the necessary time to rounding up the defaulters. The publio have a right to expect more vigorous and thorough action. Most of the defaulters must work to Jive, and if the authorities made a closer inspection of the «ages books of the far-away timber mills and other places they could perhaps get track of some of the shirkers. An amendment of tho law in regard to the keeping of wages books might also advantageously be made. At present it is not necessary to give particulars of casual hands. This should be altered to embrace all workmen, casual or permanent. In some cases special constables have been appointed to hunt up the defaulters. This provision might be extended and the Dominion divided into sections, and each thoroughly beaten for shirkers. Up till now the 'Defence authorities have been very half-hearted in their efforts, relying upon outsiders for assistance more than upon their own measures. Before members of the Second Division are called up, the deserters should be accounted for as far as is humanly possible.
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Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1917, Page 4
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436ROUNDING UP DESERTERS. Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1917, Page 4
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