FAILURE TO ENROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 78, 4 June 1943, Page 5

FAILURE TO ENROL

LOCAL DALMATION CHARGED

Mobilisation breach

When Joseph Plamus, a naturalised Dalmation appeared before Mr E. L. Walton last Tuesday, he was charged firstly with having failed to take steps to enrol in the general reserve under regulations issued in April 1942, and secondly with being • a member of the general reserve he also failed to make application for enrolment in the local Home Guard. To both char'ges he pleaded guilty. Sergeant Farrell said that Plamus had been resident in New Zealand for 25 years. He had definitely failed to enrol but having joined the E.P.S. and, was serving in the Trans.: port section, he understood that was all that was required of him. He had later sought enlightenment from the Dalmation Consul who instructed him that he had to enrol under the regulations. Mr B. S. Barry'who defended said that uft till March 1), 1942, it had not been necessary for the defendant to register. Since then there had been 5o many regulations that to the general public they were not known. Not being a great reader of the newspapers lie had not seen the advertised gazette, notice but. after conversation with some of" his countrymen he had made a special trip to see the Consul in Auckland and after the interview had registered in November, 1942, some time before the ballot for his age-group was released. His age which was* given as, 17 was uncertain. With regard to the Home Guard, he liad been given his station in the E.P.S. and was trained in what to do in the. event of an emergency arising. He thought therefore that he had done all that was necessary. There was absolutely no question of his loyalty and both offences had been committed in complete, ignorance of the regulations. The Magistrate: Has lie enrolled in the Home Guard now ? Mr Barry: He says he has not been approached by the Home Guard in any way as to what he should do ! The magistrate then imposed a fine of £3 and costs 10/- on each charge.