PARENTAL AUTHORITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1655, 23 January 1913, Page 5

PARENTAL AUTHORITY.

CASE UNDER TEE. DEFENCE ACT.

. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.)' _• Auckland, January 22. ; The father of a lad charged with failing to, render personal service under tlio Defence Act appeared in tho Police Court this morning l before Mr. E. Cutten, S.M., and raised the contention that tho provisions of tho Act constituted an invasion of parental rights. ;' When a lad, E. T.Drumm, was charged, ho pleaded "not guilty," stating that in .foiling to render service ho acted under his father's instructions. Tlio father thereupon rose at tho solicitor's table, and staled. that tho military authorities with whom'ho had had oorrespondenco were\ aware that the lad was not to blame, and that he (tho father) had prevented tho lad from rendering service. . ' .

Mr. Cutten: That does not save the boy from prosecution under the Act. it only makes you liable under another section.

Tho father: Why was not notico sent to tho boy? :■;■. •■'.-.. The magistrate: That hois nothing io do with the case. The boy has to render service or to apply for and obtain a certificate of'exemption, or bo convioted of failing to render service, ' The father: So long as it is made clear that tho boy is being punished for obeying his father that is all I want.

Tho magistrate: He is l>eins punished for not rendering service. If you ,'nro preventing him you will,bo punished too; Mr. Cutten ; advised: the father that if ho had conscientious objections lie could apply to tho magistrate under tho .Act for exemption for tho lad from military duties, dnd if the magistrate were satisfied that .tho objections were made in good faith, tho boy would ba asked To carry out prescribed-non-military duties under-tho Act,- If he did not then 'oir-ry out thoso duties Uo could bo prosecuted for not. rendering service.'- - .-. \- - ( Tho father: I have correspondence with the military officers that will make the case clear. •• ■ ■-' .'■'■ Mr. Cutton: Correspondence with military oflieei's will bo no, good. They have nothing to'do with the law. Continuing., tho magistrate staled that the present information was faulty, and he would strike it out and order a fresh information to )>c laid. 'In the meaiilimo exemption could bo properly applied for. Ho had only to administer "tho law as it was, and.tho applicant would have to ito to some other person if ho wished: to make remarks about what tho law ought to be, Mr. Drnmm said ho did nokintond to avail himself of tho conscientious objector's clause. His contention was that the Act ww subversive of parental authority.