DEFENCE ACT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1828, 14 August 1913, Page 8

DEFENCE ACT.

TERRORISING THE BOYS,

TAUNTS, JEERS & TRICKS.

The Minister for Defence (the [lon. J. Allen) instituted inquiries .some time ago into certain allegations that victimisation was being practised on tho West Coast in the choice of persons to be prosecuted i'or failing to comply .with the Defence Act.

Yesterday Mr. Allen read in the House of JJeprcseiitatives the following report 011 the inquiries made from the Officers Commanding the Canterbury military district: "After investigation it is> found:— "That thero is no truth in the statement that any persons, connected with tho Labour or any other.movement, wore prosecuted while others were allowed to evade service. When any case of evasion of service comes to the knowledge of officers in this district, steps are at onco taken to cause the offender to comply with the Act. .If it is a caso of neglect to register, first by sending him a notico calling upon him to do so. If this- fails, information is laid against him as is done in cases of failure to render personal service. Youths are prosecuted without any reference to their occupations, but' it would appear that there are more cases of breaches of the Defence Act by those connected with the Labour movement than with any other.

"There is evidence of a considerable amount of terrorism of boys at. Uunanga who are willing to tako up their military duties, and it appears that some of them are more willing to break the law than to put np with the taunts, ieers, and tricks played upon them at work, and boycotting, which are more keenly felt by boys than adults. The officer in charge of Group No. 11a reports: 'Boys at Runanga have .stated (hat they are willing to drill, but not at Kunanga, being evidently afraid of the attitude towards tlicni of those imposed to the Defence Act. It is very difficult to sheet home a direct charge against men for terrorising bovs, as thero are so 'many ways in which a'boy can bo made to feel very keenly, such as ieering and making insutting remarks.

"Cases brought under my notice:— A youth named is known to have sold out hi? business of KreoucvocT through being boycotted for tollins the nvigislrate in Court that lie was willing to drill, which statement was heard by a lumber of Kunanga people.who were present. A youth named , who attended camp last year, told me personally that lis life was made almost, unbearable oil his return, by being taunted while at work, and when passing along the. street He has since left the mine and is now work in.? for a less wage in Greymouth. Another man. who attended the last casual camp held in Greymouth, told me that Ins life was made very unpleasant i • n<, ks being played upon hiin while at work, so much so that, ho was doubtful about remaining there. Tiro others have applied for exemption, and, both employed in different stores, on the grounds flint should they drill it would seriously affect their employers* businesses. Covering letters from their employers confirming their statement were a Unfiled to the applications. It, was arranged that prosecutions should take place in t.ho following order— Hokitika, Greymoiith, Hunanga. At Greymouth the cases were strongly deloiided, and defects in the Act wero pointed out, so tho remaining cases at that place and Hunanga were abandoned pending the amending of tlio Act. When this was passed last year, for convenience tile Huninga cases wero token first, and with as little delay as possible. "Mr. Scrapie's son has not been' prosecuted in this district, and nothing is known of his arrest. Information was lr.id njjainst Mr, Seniplo for refusing to give information regarding his son's "a Re. ■Ho was filled, but, not having paid tlm fine aft?r some weeks, he was arrested." In all eases where' blanks are left for names, the nnmm are given in the report as supplied to the Minister.'

Mr. Allen said that he made this stnt»mont because some more or loss definite charges had been made against the Department bv Labour members of the community. He was very sorry to confess that, from the evidence so far as it was disclc-sed, it oppfnrcd that there had been a certain amount of terrorism going on in the I?una.n.ga district—terrorism imposed uponJnds willing, apparently, to serve, but frightened from doing so on account of this terrorism. Ho hoped that that terrorism would cease, and that the bays willing to obey tho laiv would not have any obstacle put in their way of doing their duty in respect of the law. JTe made this statement because ho thought it was only fair that tho Department's side should bo made public, as well as tile other vide. As Mr. Allen sat down, Mr. Paynn Mining to his feet with a loud cry of "Mr. Speaker." Mr. Speaker suavelv intimated that the subject, being a Ministerial utterance, was not open for discussion,. and Mr. Payne subsided. . '