THE DEFAULTERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10109, 17 October 1917, Page 5

THE DEFAULTERS.

LATEST OFFICIAL FIGURES. PROPERTY MAY BE CONFISCATED. A-return presented to the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Defence shows the names of missing reservists up- to September 29. These are men who have been drawn in ballots, gazetted as defaulters, and then ordered .to bo arrested, but who have not been found by the police. Tho total number of names on the list, is 256. The warrants outstanding in Group 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs) on September 29 numbered 53. Of tlie men con eomed 20 are described as seamen, firemen, stewards or waterside workers,, and the majority of the others are labourers. Another return was presented to the House of Representatives yestenlay show ing the number of members of the Expedi lionary Force Reserve drawn in ballots, and who failed to report when ordered, also the action taken in such cases up to September 29, 1917. The number of cases of reservists transferred by the Director of Recruiting to tho Director of Personal Services for disciplinary action was 5799. The number found and referred back to the Director of Recruiting as tho result of action by tbo Director of Personal Services was 2944. The number still under investigation by the Director of Personal Services with Government Statistician. Base records, Internal Affairs, camps and groups was 2560. Tho number of cases in which warrants had been issued, and were still in tho hands of tlie police unexecuted, was 295. The first dissection of cases resulted as follows:—Found os the result of investigation prior to gazetting, 1985; found us the result of gazetting, 959. Tho second dissection of cases showed that 1503 had been medically examined, 661 being sent to camp an'd 842 found to be unfit: already serving, 472; loft Now Zealand, 257; located in New Zealand (in hospital, in prison, deceased, exemptions, seafaring in Now Zealand, miners, men who have voluntarily reported as result of gazetting, volunteers not yet in camp, over ago and under age men) 712 Of the 2560 cases remaining under investigation, 854 were cases m which investigation had reached tbo point of 'gazetting, 1706 were under investigation hut had not reached the point of gazetting. The total warrants issued were 622; arrestled 234: warrants withdrawn, 93. these two items are included in the 2944 found. Balance of warrants still outstanding, 290. Mr L M Isitt (Christchurch North), enquired 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'tho police wore taking action. Mr T W Rhodes (Thames) asked what steps wore being taken to remedy a wrong done to a number of lads who wore wrongly gazetted as deserters. ‘ Mr Isitt maintained that if the Govern moat could not secure defaulters it should seize their property. , . f , The Prime Minister stated that the Go) - eminent had under consideration a pro posal to confiscate land owned by reservists who had absconded in order to avoid military service. . , . Sir James Allen, said that as soon as 'possible the widest publicity was given to correct mistakes made. Tho report was laid on the table and . ordered to bo printed.