AVOIDED MILITARY SERVICE FOR FOUR YEARS

Chronicle (Levin), 21 March 1946, Page 7

AVOIDED MILITARY SERVICE FOR FOUR YEARS

— Press Association

SINGLE MAN SENTENUED TO THREE MONTHS' GAOL.

By Telegraph-

WANGANUI, March iy. Living aloue in a paper hut in the bush ontside Rangataua, a small Main: Trunk townsliip, John Williaih Murdie, aged 12, single, successfully avojded niilitary service for four years, according to evidence giveu in the Wanganui Magistrate 's Court today. Murdie, wlio was arrested by a police party in liis hide-out early iast Saturday morning, was charged under the National Service Emer-gency Regulations with failing to report' to the Army Oftice, Taihape, for medical examination 011 March 6, 1912." He pleadfed guiity. Senior-Sergeant F. Cujloty, the police prosecutor, said that Murdie liad been drawn for miltary service in a ballot in March, 191.1; and an appeal he had made 011 the ground of conscientious objection had been subsequently disinissed. When accused had not.obeyed notices to attend' for medical examina-. tion. a warrant had been issued for liis arrest. "As a result of information received, constables R. D. Gardner (Ohakune), .1. H. Beaton (Raetihi), A. D. Adlam (National Park), R. Cross (Taihape)' and M. Rolls (Waiouru) went-into tlie' bush at the back of Rangataua last Fri- ■ day night, ' ' the senior-sergeant added. ; "The next morning they went to a hut in a clearing and found accused asleep. - A ]oaded'.303'rifle was hangiug over uis • bed. The hut was made of newspa'pers . ^ which liad been pasted -together and paiiited over to keep out the rain." In a |tatement 111a.de to eonstable . Gardner, which Senior-Sergeant Culloty produce'd, Murdie said he liad worked around Rangataua until September, 1912, when'he went to the Auckland dis; trict for some months.- Returning to Rangataua early in 1913, he had gone into the bush and occupied the liut. 11 e had lived alone but had gone to Karioi: for stores, which Avere obtainetj for hiiu by a friend whose itamfe he refused to-: ? disclose. • v ' '' • '•'Had the war been still on, I woui'i, have committed accused to defauiters' ' detention, but I can see no^ object in doing that no\y, as that may end anyday, " said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M. ■ "He must be punished, liowev'er, for ' flouting the law and will be seutenced to three months ' imprisonment."