"ROUNDED-UP."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 18 July 1917, Page 8

"ROUNDED-UP."

REMARKABLE RESULTS AT WELLINGTON.

DEAD MAN COMES TO LIFE.

[From Our Correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, July 17

Tho most, embarrassing feature of the raids on Wellington reservists was the attention paid to tho theatres. All places of amusement were visited at tome time during tho evening, when every man going in, who was apparently of military age, was required to account for himself. As most of those accosted were accompanied by ladies, tho situation was not an attractive one, but it was handled with tact by tho police. Most of thoso concerned accepted it laughingly. In the vestibule of the Grand Opera House the »socMiG was not a little amusing. There each man in evening dress, with his lady on his arm, was brought to book. Most of them having changed their clothes bad left their precious certificates at homo. There were many blushes, much stammering, and what the reservist.s felt -was tho most embarrasing part of all was that the blushes woro not always their own.

Tho police did not make organised raids to-day, but in a number of instances have been making individual inquiries of pedestrians in the streets, which have had a stimulating effect. At tho Police Court this morning, all the spectators who had assembled there to watch the proceedings were l put through their facings themselves in the Witnesses' room. They were obliged cither to produce their certificates or give their names and addresses for future, investigation. Tho Government Statistician's staff quickly felt tho effect of tho raids in an avalanche of requests for certificates which have waited many weeks in post offices. Hundreds of Wellington men made personal application, waiting for hours in a long oueuo, while the clerks dealt slowly with tho unexpected business. Many of these were men who have left applying for their certificates to the last moment, and aro now in tho greatest hurry to get them. Nor is Wellington city the only ono affected, the Government Statistician being deluged with inquiries from all over the Dominion. A.s a result of police action yesterday, hp received .1000 telegrams making inquiries, besides from 1200 to 131)0 letters. 7,j per cent of which had to do with the issue of the precious slips. This morning a further thousand telegrams woro re, ceived, and an even larger mail. The. Statistician quotes the case of an offieiallv dend man who has come to life under force of the now pressure. Some months ago the postmaster at a particular post office advised that the reservist in question, for whom a certificate had been forwarded, was dead. The certificate was returned to the Government Statistician accordingly. Now with section 44 of the Act being >-t\foreod the man is annlying for his certificate. This wholly unexpected reappearance of the reservist in this life is naturally perplexing the Government Statistician, and as a cautious officer he is naturally making inquiries.

POLICE AND RESERVISTS

INVESTIGATIONS AND INTEKVIEWS.

The work of the police in making investigations and interviewing reservists witii a view to discovering, if possible, men of military age who have failed to register under the Military Servico Act, was continued yesterday. Tho picture theatres and other pleasure and entertainment resorts were places where search was made in particular-

Quite a number of yoyng men were interviewed, and in most cases tho nolice- were answered courteously, jt being generally recognised that they W',ro only carrying out a duty imposed upon them under"clause 41 of the Military Service Act, lt.'Hi. This clause provides that "after enrolment of the First Division of the Reserve, or of any class thereof, has been proclaimed and directed, any constable may question any man who may reasonably be .supposed t<> bo of military age, as to liis panic, occupation, abode, date find place of birth, enrolment in reserve, and other matters relevant to the question of his membership in the Hoserve or of any division thereof, or Ids membership of tho Expeditionary Force." The clause further provides that anyone who fails or refuses forthwith to answer any question so put to him or who answers in false, or misleading manner, shall be guilty of an offence, and penalties are cirumorated.

Tlio pnlicr; state that in their interviews yesterday certificates were, produced in most eases, and where men were unable to do so satisfactory explanations ivero given. The police will give Reservists every opportunity to produce their certificates. ]n cases where reasons for non-production are not conclusive, further inquiries will be made. That, in faet, is now being done in a few instances. The investigations v.-ijl l>o continued, and Rescr. vists can best assist themselves and the police by carrying their certificates of enrolment with them.