PETONE S.M. COURT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1495, 18 July 1912, Page 6

PETONE S.M. COURT.

The chief business of the monthly sitting of tho Petoue Magistrate's Court yesterday morning was 'concerned with broaches of the Defeucc Act by a mini-, her of territorials and senior cadets. Dr. A. M'Artiiur was on tho Bench. The first coses to coma before the Court were those of Thomas H. Stevens and James Garner, who were charged with failing to attend compulsory camps aiid 'rcnd'Sr personal service under the Defence Act. Tho former pleaded not guilty, and ths latter guilty. Captain Braddell prosccuted. ijc said that defendants had been twiea warned. Stevens stated his excuse for not attending was that he had no uniform, and he refused to ] go in mufti. Dr. M'Arthur said this was no excuse, and all he could do was to administer the law* Garner said he applied for exemption, andjin this connection Captain Braddell said it would liave bocra' granted had a reasgnable excuse l.ean offered. Both were' convicted and fined. .£l, with Court costs (75.). They were given seven days in which to find the money. Thomas William , Jenkins, William E. Cooley, and.W. H. Xunn were charged with wilfully failing to take the oath of allegiance. All three pleaded guilty, and save various excuses. One stated that be was anxious to get out of the country. Cooley said he had no intention whatever of talcing the rath, and tho third complained of the . compulsory clause in the Act. Each was fined Jsl, with costs (7?.),. seven days'being given in which to pay 'the fine; * < Jenkins ond'Nunn were also charged with failing to Tender personal service. On this charge they were merely convicted. Norman Woollett and E. E. Garrett, Senior' Cadets, were also charged witli failing to attend drills. Woollett tendered as his excuse a letter granting him leave of absence from' parade, but this was proved to be in connection with a previous drill. However, owing ;to mitigating circumstances, both were warned of their obligations, and discharged with n. caution. The next two cases to come up were thoso against Edward Stevens and TCobort A. Parrant of obstructing parades. Dr. M'Arthur said he considered these were more serious cases than any of the preceding ones. Both pleaded not guillv. In inflicting a fine, tlie Magistrate' remarked that 911 this occasion thev would be punished the sanio as the others, but should they come up again before tbe bench thev would not bo, so leniently dealt with. riiomas John M'Tntosb and Arthur Leonard Parker were charged with failing (o render nersonnl service. Both pleaded not guilty. His M'oisliin asked flipm if they wore prepnrcd to" al l end drill 111 future, ami on nr.Mnising this they were each convicted and ordered to par Court costs /75.). A prohibition order was granted »i'ain=t. J. Ash by. For failing to ??nd his son to school Jolm Bnrne= iviis finad 5«„ with costs 7s,