AT LAST!

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 868, 23 February 1917, Page 6

AT LAST!

Rounding: Up the Registration Dodgers. . x "TO ETTER late than never. "We had almost begun.to of seeing the Defence Department \take a firm stand with regard to the, shirkers and dodgers who have wilfully defied the law by refraining from signing the National Register. At last, however, the Department has awakened to the gross impropriety—to use no stronger term— of calling up men, often at their grave, personal inconvenience, whilst walking the streets of our . cities, there are scores, probably hundreds/ of young men who had treated this provision ~for registration with impudent contempt. On Monday last, however, the first steps were taken to secure the punishment of the offenders, "several warrants being issued for prompt execution. Not

only will men who have not signed theregister be liable to summary arrest and trial by court martial, but—and this jpoint deserves to ,be specially stressed—but those "who neglect or refuse to attend medical examinations., or who, after being medically examined, neglect or refuse to parade for going into camp." * - t.-, ■■ - We congratulate the Government and the Defence Department upon the decision to enforce the law of the land, belated though that decision may / have been.; The, public had begun to have an uneasy-feeling that, for. political or other reasons, the Government was afraid to enforce the 'Military Service Act'. We have never shared that, feeling, for in other directions the Government has exhibited .a most laudable firmness in dealing with /those silly or mischievous people, who have played the Gennan game by defying the law. Still there certainly has been a grievous delay, and we aire heartily pleased that .action has at length been taken.