THE DEFAULTERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 19, 17 October 1917, Page 5

THE DEFAULTERS

UIESr OfflClAl FIGURES MEN WHO HAVE ABSCONDED PROPERTY.MAY BE CONFISffITED A rctnrn presented to the House of Representatives yesterday by tho Minister of Defonco 6iiou's tlio names of missiiii* reservists up lo September 23. These are won who have been drawn in ballots gazetted as defaulters, and then ordered to bo arrested, but who have not been lound by the police. TJio total number of names on the list is 256. The warrants outstanding in Group 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs) on Sep- , tcmbor -9 numbered 53. Of tho men concorned 20 aro described as seamen, firemen, stewards, or waterside workers, and tlio majority of tho others aro labourers. Another return was presented to tho .House of liepresentatives yesterday showing the nunibor of members of tho Expeditionary Foreo Reserve drawn in ballots, and who failed to report when ordered, also thfc action taken in such cases up to September 29, 1917. Tho number of cases of reservists transferred • by the Director of Recruiting to tho Director of Personal Servieos for disciplinary action was 5799. The number found and referred back to tho Director of Recruiting as tho result of action by tho Director of Personal Services was 2911. The number still under investigation by the Director of Personal Services with Government Statistician, Baso Records, Internal Affairs, camps, and groups was 2560. Tho number of cases in which warrants had been issued, and were still in the hands of the police unexecuted, was 295. The first dissection of cases resulted as follows: —Found as tho result of investigation prior to gazetting:, 1985; found as thoresultofgazetting, 959. Thosecond dissection of cases showed that 1503 had bcon medically examined, 661 being sent to camp and 842 found to be unfit; already Benin?, 472; loft Now Zealand, 257 5 located in New Zealand (iu hospital, in prison, deceased, exemptions, seafaring in New Zealand, miners, men who lavo voluntarily reported aa result of gazetting, volunteers not yet in camp, over age and under ago inon), 712. Of the 2560 case 9 remaining uuder investigation 854 were cases in which investigation had reached Uie point of gazetting, 1706 wero under investigation but had not readied the point of gazetting. 'Iho total warrants issued were 622; arrested, 234; warrants withdrawn, 93. These two - items are included in tho 2914 found. Balance of warrants still outstanding, 295. • Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) inquired if attempts would bo made at racecourses and similar places to round up defaulters. Sir James Allen said the matter had been discussed tho day before in Cabinet, and the pob'cs were taking action. Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Thames) asked what steps were being taken to remedy a wrong dono to a number of lads who were wrongly gazetted as deserters. Mr. Isitt maintained that if the Government could not secure defaulters it should seize their property. The Prime Minister stated that the Government hod under consideration a proposal to confiscate land owned by reservists who had absoonded in order to avoid military service. Sir James Allen 6aid that as 6oon as possible the widest publicity was given to correct mistakes made.

The. .report was laid on the table and ordered to ba printed.