NOT SHIRKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1919, Page 6

NOT SHIRKERS.

DEFENCE MINISTER IN EXPLANA* TION. There recently appeared in the Newß an article, headed "Not Shirkers at all," and in that letter the writer (Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P.) showed that in a list of 15,000 names sent him by the Defence Minister 232 were not defaulters at all, as it included men over age, some men that were killed in action, others who were in gaol and mental asylums, etc. The Minister has sent Mr Jennings the following reply:— "I regret that a reply to your letter of the 27th February has been so long withheld, but the branch of the Director of Personal Services which deals with audi matters, has been in progress of "demobilisation" and lias now ceased to exist. In reply to the points you raise with reference to the issue of warrants for the arrest of defaulters under the Military Service Act; I have to inform you that such are never issued until reasonable efforts to locate the persons concerned have failed; but the mere fact of a warrant being issued, often brings to light information which ordinary enquiries fail to develop. Experience has shown that a large number of people in this Dominion are the possessors of personal and domestic "skeletons," which they naturally keep in the proverbial cupboard as long as possible. There are also many cases of unreported death, imprisonment, or insanity, while enlistment under assumed names or departure from the Dominion, all add their quota of complications to be overcome. Whenever such facts are clearly established, after the issue of a warrant, the police are informed, the warrant withdrawn, and the rolls- amended. The cases you mention as being withdrawn on account of age, are accounted for in most instances, through the fact that the reservists in question did not state their ages or stated these incorrectly when filling in the National Registration cards, and the relative error in classification being brought out only on the issue of a warrant. In the case of Maoris, many difficulties have arisen through the duplication and complication of names, for which the native race is peculiar, and the Department has practically ceased to issue warrants on account of Maori defaulters. C2 men who, having been medically examined and classed "C2" were given "leave untii further orders." Such cases often fell into the error of believing that they were not liable for further examination, and consequently failed to respond to subsequent notices to parade for that purpose. Warrants have sometimes been issued in such cases and withdrawn on reasonable explanation being made. A large percentage of the cases of warrants being issued in error are brought about by neglect or careless ignorance of the requirements of the Military Service Act. If the public understood the many difficulties that have arisen, and the great amount of work entailed in overcoming these, they would appreciate more fully the earnest endeavors of the' Department to apply the provisions of the Act equitably in all cases.—l am, etc., , _ : . J. ALLEN, T Minister of Defence.