THE DEFENCE ACT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1391, 18 March 1912, Page 6

THE DEFENCE ACT.

S STATEMENT BY PBIME MINISTER. The Prime Minister, in a statement on Friday, night, made it quite clear that ho is against imprisoning boys for breaches of the Defence Act. "I have given a great deal of consideration to this matter," said Sir Joseph Ward, "and I want to niako it quite clear that I am against the imprisonment of boys for such offences. There is no such direct provision in our Defence Act, and I am of opinion that the law will require to bo altered so as to make tho Act quite clear that imprisonment cannot bo ordered. There is no doubt that imprisonment now is quite legal and that it comes automatically under tho usual law in relation to unpaid fines. "I am of opinion that an alternative of a more effective character to enable the system of universal training to bo' carried out can bo provided by legislation, removing from tho present system what has given rise, not unnaturally, to strenuous opposition by many who are favourable to the defence of tho country being carried out upon the basis of universal training. . I cabled tho Primo Minister of Australia (tho Hon. A. Fisher) concerning the matter a tow days ago, and I find that imprisonment is not carried out in the Commonwealth, but that the law provides for fines up to j65. The alternative where finos are not paid is that those not complying with the requirements of the Defence Act are placed under military detention. The magistrates have no power to commit to prison. In any caso, it seems to mo that the system can be maintained in its integrity by removing what at present is creating very strong antagonism to-day in various parts of tho Dominion."