TERRITORIAL CASES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3557, 18 September 1916, Page 2

TERRITORIAL CASES.

PALMERSTON NORTH, Sept. 15. John Max, a Senior Cadet, whose height was sft. Tin., was before Mr Poynton, S.M., charged with being absent from parades. The excuse given was that he objected to wearing shorts. The Magistrate remarked that in view of the cases before him where six foot youths had to drill in shorts, he thought there should be some elasticity. Boys above the average lieight should be permitted to wear civilian clothes. He pointed out that defendant had not attended parades for six months, and fined him £1 and costs. Defendant said he would not pay. The Magistrate said that in that case he would bo kept in custody for 14 days. The question, "Can a member of the Territorials, unfit for active or home service, be compelled to attend Territorial drill?" arose in the same Court to-day, when P. Hadden, charged with failure to attend drill, stated that all his brothers had^ enlisted, and he himself had been rejected. The Magistrate enquired of the 'officers if it was not absurd that a man unfit for home service should attend drill. He might as well compel a j cripple to do so. The reply was that defendant had passed the medical test for the Territorial forces, and the fact that he was turned down for active service did not affect his Territorial obligation. Hadden was convicted and discharged.