DEFAULTING RESERVISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16560, 8 June 1917, Page 6

DEFAULTING RESERVISTS.

REPORTED TO NUMBER 1000. (BT TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLINGTON. Thursdsy.

Some time ago there was a demand in Wellington and other centres that the Defence Department should take somo effective steps to deal with the men who were defying the Military Service Act. It was alleged at the time that the number of defaulters was large, 'and information on this point was sought by the Minister for Defence. Certain information was supplied to him, and this seemed to show that the number of defaulters was so small as to be almost negligible. The Minister did not accept the figures at once, and publication of them wag withheld pending further inquiry. That inquiry has been goinjj on, more or less intermittently, ever since, and still the Minister has not got figures which he is prepared to make public. A reorganisation has been eoing on in the branch of the Defence Department which deals with the drafting of men from civilian life into the army, whether as volunteers or as conscripts! This process of reorganisation is now nearly complete, but it is improbable that the information will be available for two weeks yet. It is reported, however that the number of men not traced, exclusive of those who have been included in the ballot in error, will be about 1000.