THE JUGO SLAVS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 11 May 1918, Page 5

THE JUGO SLAVS.

SOME SHIRKING GOVERNMENT WORK.

■X T&LEGKAPH—PRESS iSSOCIATIOn.

AUCKLAND, May 10, Ine employment of Jugo-Slavs. in bovernment work is being hampered by the attitude of the men themselves, a statement making this fact apparent was made yesterday by Mr John Oullen, commissioner in charge of the Jugoslavs organisation branch of the Defence Department. "A fair percentage of the Jugo-Slavs ar 6 trying to shirk Government work, which at th e time of their registration they agreed to do/ said Mr Oullen. "They are resorting to medical certificates, and to solicitors interesting themselves on behalf of the men to get them out of going on to Government works. Many Jugo-Slavs are leaving their former places of residence without notifying m e of their changes of ad_ dress, in spite of th e fact that they were warned not to do so. At present we cannot find these men, A fair number have been employed by the Government on road and railway construction and drainage works, and have been paid the same wages as British laborers. Presumably, therefore, the remainder would be employed on1 the same terms. "There is no doubt drastic measures will be-taken by the Government in con. nection with these shirkers," said the commissioner. "Those failing to report for work and failing to give good grounds for doing so, will be arrested and interned at an early date. They cannot leave the Dominoion, and are bound to be found and arrested if they do not voluntarily report thetoselves for work quickly. No notice -'will be taken by the Defence Department ot medical certificates of unntness to work being obtained by some of the JugoSlavs. The men will-all have to be examined later by medical men engaged by the Department. I hav G registered over 170 Jugo-Slavs to date, but there are still some who have failed to regis.ter, despite advertisements calling on tTiem to do so. These men also will un_ doubtedly be interned unless they are soon legistered." Enquiries from other sources elicited the information that a certain number of Jugo-Slavs are exhibiting a spirit ot resentment against the Government interfering with them in any way. Many are declared to be really exploiting the British population at present by demanding and obtaining exorbitant wages, and declining to give up s uch remunerative employment in order to go on to Government works. Some JugoSlavs are reported to be earning 25s a chain in drainage work under private employers, taking contracts over the heads of British competitors. They work long hours, and can readily do more than a chain a day.

In a certain district several Jugoslavs are going about from farm to farm seeking employment in order to/ avoid doing Government work. Farmers should be warned that the engagement of these men after registration, will not b e recognised by the Defence Department, and they are liable to lose their services at any time." The opinion is expressed, that there can be little doubt but that the upshot of the present position will be that after the war Jugo-Slavs who have endeavored to shirk their duties will be gathered together by the Government and expatriated.