TRACING DEFAULTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16672, 17 October 1917, Page 8

TRACING DEFAULTERS.

MEN WHO FAIL TO REPORT? INVESTIGATION. PROCEEDING. [BY TBIEGEAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday A return was presented to the House of Representatives to-day showing the number of members of the Expeditionary Force Reserve drawn In the ballots who failed to laport when ordered; also, the action taken in such cases up to September 29, 1917. The number of cases of reservists transferred by the director of recruiting to the director of "personal services for disciplinary action was 5799; the number found and referred back to the director of recruiting as the result of action by the direotor of pergonal services was .2944; the number still under investigation by the director of pergonal services, the .Government statistician, base records, Department of Internal Affairs, camps, and groups was 2560; the number of cases in ' which warrants had been issued and were still in the hands of 'the police unexecuted was 295. The first dissection of cases resulted as follows : —Found as the result of investigation prior to gazetting, 5985; found as the result of gazetting, 959. The second dissection of cases showed, that 1503 had been medically examined 661 being sent to camp and 842 found to be unfit; already serving, 472; left New Zealand, 257" located in ; New Zealand in hospital, ?rison, deceased, exemptions, seafaring in 'ew Zealand, miners, men who have voluntarily reported as result of gazetting, volunteers not yet in camp over age and under age men, 712. Of the 2560 .cases remaining under investigation, 854 wero cases in which investigation had reached the point of gazetting, 1706 were under investigation, but .had not reached fie point of gazetting. The total warranto issued were 622, those arrested numbered 234, and warrants withdrawn 93. These two items are included in the 2944 found. ■ The balance of warranto still outstanding was 295. t Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchureh North) inquired whether attempts would be made !at racecourses ( and similar .places to j"round up" defaulters. I Sir James Allen said the matter had 'been dismissed the day before in Cabinet, and the police were taking action. Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Thames) asked "what steps were beir>; token to remedy a wrong done to a nun. Her of lads who wero wrongly gazetted as e'eserters. Mr. Tsift maintained that if the Government could not secure defaulters it should seize their property. I The Prime Minister stated that the Government had the proposal under con- j sideration now. | Sir James Allen said that the widest publicity was given to correcting mistakes I made as soon as possible.