DEALING WITH DESERTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16583, 5 July 1917, Page 4

DEALING WITH DESERTERS.

It is satisfactory to note that the Government has under consideration the methods of dealing with men who are wilfully evading service under the Military Service Act. The answer given to the question put by Mr. Andeison in the House of Representatives yesterday suggested that "further powers" are necessary. Possibly the tracking of men who deliberately move from place to place in order to avoid service may be made easier by legislation, but it has not appeared in the past that the existing authority to arrest such men as deserters has been either vigorously or intelligently used. The number of deserters is admittedly inconsiderable. It is probably true that from a military point of view the results of a thorough search for them would not be worth the trouble involved. But in a matter of this kind regard must

be had to the strong civilian opinion which has made compulsory service possible, and there can be no question that civilian opinion is affected by successful evasion. Supporters of such a law naturally look to authority to enforce it wherever it is defied. It will be expected that before the Second Division is called out there will be a thorough sifting of the first and that most minute and careful attention be paid to the deserters.