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Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 165, 10 April 1944, Page 4

An example of Hie tlifficnlly confronting manpower officers in dealing with cases in which “direction” to essentia] work- has boon ignored or evaded, was provided in the report of an Awklnnd prosecution. The facts of the cane, as stated in Ihe report, were Hint a certain man—the defendant in the action —received Hal-odd for three weeks’ work on the Auckland waterfront, undertaken after ho had been directed to oilier work. lie pleaded guilty anti was fined £l5 and costs. In ordinary circumstances this would constitute a substantial monetary penalty for the worker. But in the abnormal circumstances of this case it was hardly a deterrent amount. By flouting the Jaw the man in question was able io make £l7 a week for three weeks, whereas his fine, pins costs, still loft, him a balance of between £lO and £l2 a week. Evasion of manpower direction orders is today a grave dereliction of national duty. It is the evil equivalent of military defaulting and merits equivalent punishment. A section of the community in this Dominion appears to have forgotten that the present war is still an “fill in” si niggle, and seems instead to be looking upon the war primarily ns an opportunity for personal profit-making, regardless of the national or community interest. Tliis altitude on the part of an irresponsible minority must be changed. If it cannot be corrected by appealing to the patriotism and decency of those al Inuit, then the law should be enabled Io act with greater rigour.