PERMITS TO LEAVE.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13656, 26 August 1916, Page 7

PERMITS TO LEAVE.

SHIPPING DIFFICULTIES RESULT. '^' : -WELLINGTON, August 24. No male over-the age of eighteen can leave New Zealand without an official permit, which means that, the authorities have to be thoroughly satisfied that the proposed emigration is not with the object oi escaping obligations under the Military Service Act, A good deal of suspicion has been cast officially on that class known -to shipping people as "the shillng a month man"—those who wisli to work their passage to another country. Even the ordinary man on articles is subject to "close attention. ..The stringent; regulation has-been laid down that before a man; can''obtain a''permit to'shijvoii'the artieles of a foreign going vessel he must be able to show that he has just been, discharged from such employment, or that he possesses Iwelve months discharges in respect to New Zealand coastal employment. But seamen are so scarce as a result of many enlistments of sailors and firemen, as well as officers, that it ha 3 been difficult to get full complement.'! of men who can comply with the official requirements as to seagoing experience. The' regulations have caused so much inconvenience-in Auckland that Mr C. If. Poole, member .for Auckland West, visited Wellington to interview the ■ Minister of Marine and Minister of Internal Affairs, in the hope of making sonio arrangement to avoid difficulties in obtaining ships-' complements in the future. Though the net, which surrounds the would-be shirker is not lo be loosened, the authorities will be able to meet the requirements of the shipping trade.