OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1599, 16 November 1912, Page 5

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.

AND THE OBJECTION TO DRILL. Since . the Defence Department . commenced the prosecution of youths for noncompliance with-tho requirements of the Defence Act, several charges of failing to. attend drills have been , dismissed by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., for, the. reason that the defendants had not taken the oath of allegi ince. The effect of this was to cast upon the Dofence authorities .the necessity of having the youths registered.', During the hearing of a number of prosecutions a few weeks ago, Mr. Riddell's ruling was questioned, and his I Worship said that. Dr. M'Arthur and he. would go into the point thoroughly, and, in due course make , their opinion. known. In,tho Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, Dr. M'Arthur, S.JI., announced their, decision. "Both Mr. Riddell and I," said his' Worship,' "have gone into the matter very fully, and we have come , to the conclusion that there is'nothing ■whatever in the Act to except anybody from' doing his ordinary training simply because he has not taken the oath of allegiance." In. giving the grounds for this opinion, he said that' Section 35 .of the Act imposed a general liability on male inhabitants of certain ages to train. These persona were, obliged to apply for registration to the prescribed oihee. So there was.not even tho necessity that any young' man. should be written to by the Department;,it was the duty 'of those liable for training to see that' they-took,the oath, iriyone who failed to take the'oath,, his Worship ■'added, was; liable to a'penalty lor that failure. "So,". he went on, "it , .:ome's to this—and I wish all young.n.en to understand it—that as far! as Mr. Riddell and- 1 understand the Defence Act there are three, if not four, .distinct requirements that must be attended tb by those who are under, a certain age.'. . I wish them- all to know.that a simple non-taking of the oath of allcgiince does " not exempt'them." • . l

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