NEW METHOD OF SHIRKING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16128, 17 January 1916, Page 6

NEW METHOD OF SHIRKING.

"BOGUS ENLISTMENT."

BRANCHES ALREADY FILLED.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN* CORRESPONDENT.]

Wr.r.TrxGTOK. Sunday. Some time ago an announcement was made that no more enlistments would be accepted for services which were then already full for months ahead. The branches especially mentioned were the Ambulance and Army Service Corps. In Wellington there are enough men registered for the Army Service Corps now to supply the quota for at least 18 months, and yet in the published daily lists of recruits there are names of men registering for this branch. These men must know, almost of a surety, that if they wait until they are required for the Army Service Corps they will not have to go to the war at all, because in -all human probability the war will be over in less than 18 months. The instruction was definite enough that no more men were to he accepted for this branch, but the rule is repeatedly broken. What happens is that men come to the recruiting office to offer for the Ambulance and Army Service Corps, and when they are told that these branches are full they say they will net enlist at all unless they can be accepted for these services. The recruiting officer, rather than lose the men's names, puts them down. The result is that scores of men are pretending to be enlisted, waiting to be called up, when the enlistment is practically bogus, for they will never be called up in this war. The Defence authorities will probably -take some steps shortly to deal with these men and to prevent any more men escaping their obligation to serve by this very simple method.