COMPULSORY TRAINING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1388, 14 March 1912, Page 4

COMPULSORY TRAINING.

* . VIEWS OP AN AUCKLAND MAGIS. TBATB. Ms Toleiro»li.-Fre»s Aißeelntlon.l Auckland, Jlarch 13. There was not the least indication ot a demonstration nt the Police Court this morning in connection with the prosecution of youths who have failed to comply with the compulsory service requirements of the Defence Act. As had been suggested by tho Socialists, only one defendant was proceeded against. His name was Harold Frank Wise, and tho charge was one of having failed to register under the' Defence Act. The Ungistrato (Mr. E. C. Cullcn, S.M.), said: "With regard to these- cases under the Defenco Act, I should like to eay that I have had a good number of young men before me for failing to. comply with the Defenco Act, and if tho matter were in my hands I should not send them to gaol, for, after all, that is what tho infliction of a penalty upon obstinate men finally comes to. As they fail to do their duty to Uμ State in the matter, I should punish them by debarring them from tho right to tho franchise, and probably later on, from the right to claim tho old ago pension. It seems to mo that this would be a more eft'ocliyo way to meet tho difficulty than sending them to gaol, and would give them food for reflection. It is quite unreasonable that they should have a)l the benefits which the Stato confers on individual citizens at tho snmo timo refuse to do their duty in such an important matter. However, I have no option in the matter. Defendant will be convicted and fined .C 2 and costs." PUBLIC SERVICE AND PRIVATE EMPLOYEES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, March 13. The Prime Minister, interviewed on the complaints alleging that distinctions had been shown between tho Public Service and private employees in regard to Territorial training, declared emphatically that no such distinctions existed. All public servants coining under the provisions of the Act will conform with them. Ho pointed out, however, that it was quite a. different thing in calling out at ono time perhaps two or three'employee* of a commercial house and several thousand men who would be affected in tlw railway service. Publio utility serviccN must not bo disorganised; the public itself would not stand the inconveniences arising from the dislocation of by the calling out at one time of a larcj body of servants.