DEFENCE ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1918, Page 8

DEFENCE ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED.

DEFAULTERS IN TARANAKI. THE POLICE BLAMED. (By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, Last Night. The House received Mr. Jlassoy's statement regarding reinforcements with apparent approval. Members evidently took a serious view of the situation created by the new developments on the West, front. There was no note of dissent when Jlr. Jlassey explained the proposals made by the Government, and stated that th e monthly reinforcements quota would be increased, but the rush of questions that came later proved the existence, of much dissatisfaction with the details of the Defence administration.

Jrembers were particularly keen that increased efforts should be made to discover defaulters. Jlr. Pearce . (Patea) said it was suggested in Taranaki that the police had not taken proper action to arrest defaulters and deserters. Tlicmj men had been seen on racecourses and elsewhere, but the police had taken no ac( ion.

The Jlinister for Justice {the Hon. T. Jf. Wilford) said the police could not make arrests except by warrant. When the Defence Department furnished names the warrants were issued, and the men could then be arrested. Two men had been arrested recently in- Taranaki bv this process, but the police could not proceed without warrants.

Mr. ('. A. Wilkinson (Egniont) referred to the deserters who were said to be camped in Jit. Egmont national park. He said that the whereabouts of these men had been stated to the Defence authorities, but nothing had' been done for ten days, and by that time the men had moved to another camp. He believed they were still in the Enmont Inish. "" .

Jfr. Okev asked a question about a Slate fire insurance officer who had been successfully appealed for in Taranaki. !le objected to this officer being exempted on the appeal of the State Department when the sons of settlers were being conscripted, and there was widespread indignation about it in the Taranaki district.

The Hon. JTacDonald replied that all the First Division men who were eligible had gone out of the State fire office. He heli-ved that there were people who were incensed at (his man's exemption, but he understood they were chiefly fire insurance agents. "He urged that t'ie Slale fire insurance wifs an important department of (he State, which needed for its business trained men.