STAKE IN THE COUNTRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1710, 29 March 1913, Page 5

STAKE IN THE COUNTRY.

MAGISTRATE ON DEFENCE ACT. ;

A yours ■ man,- Victor Weggery,' . who; with "his .Brother, is said',to own about ; fiOti. acres'of ;lnn(l in the .Manawatu districft, was before the Police Court yes-, • ' terday on .a', charge of - his disi obeyed tho .Defence Act by' failing -toiattenil a parade. . ;,. ■, ■ Mr;-P.- J. O'-Recran appeared lis counsel "for .wWjprrjri : "We.pleaded guilty," said Mr.O'liogan, "under extenuating ciroum- .-: stances. '" This is a care in which the defendant has not received any notice of •VvtWjcarap.. ..He has'never attended any parades;.' because he has never.• been' re- " quij-Al;'. He' lias, Men before 1 the Court -. before.' and Been fined, but since then tliey have left .hitt'severely alohe. .■ He is.a farmer in the Mariawatu, and lie and his bfothef' : owtl. about 000 .acres of land, ■.I 1 fraifkly 1 admit that ho hasveiry strong . con'scienuoitS' obirctions to the' Act."' Mf.'RiddelV. S.M. : Boes lio''imagine ..- ithit becaftse he did not receive notice ho. wn,s.ii6t : Witind\to 'obey tho Act.?. . : MkMO'Kes&m:- No; he thought-, that - he was iidt .bound to attend this particular tiafade;' He is. a working. farmer, ..whti 'minds . his own business,' and does V .not poke lliSj noso into' other; people's, . and Tie' .believes in. b'einf? left 'alone., Of icotirseV ;i kndw.thrit that, is, not a mat, ' ter.' for' the Conrt. .Y-bur' Worship lias the unpleasant duty of. carrying: out this abominable Act. ; ; : .-v His Worship: Well, ho has tu stake in th» couhtry! . •.... Mr. O'Hcsan: Yes. ■ His'. WOrSllii>V' Then Ml the : more reaSoft ' why. he 1 should comply with the Dcfencs Art. .' ~ Mr.'o'H«i?an: .tVell, that Is jtisfe a mat ; ■ ,'ter, ©f, ojjihiori. , Wo all comply with thn -Defened Act bv paving for it. '■.We' pay V to. serid General Gbdley oii a holiday to A.us'tritlia—ef erj'one. of lis. • '' Waggery. MS.fined '.£l,l with costs 7fl.