MILITARY SERVICE DEFAULTERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 36, 6 November 1919, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE DEFAULTERS

APPEALS AGAINST LOSS OF FUAN ' 'OkiSE.

Appeals against the inclusion' of their names in the military • deiauiters' list were made before 'iv. D. U. A. Cooper, it.il., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday by the following-.—

No. '85,498 Glen Pollock. No. 47,728 William Hughes. . No. 7076 William 'Heavey. No. 117,326 Robert Gouid. No. 33,012 Alexander Fraser. Captain W. M. Bell represented the Defence Department.

Pollock's ground for appeal was stated on the appeal form us "open Bible." He claimed that he was a religious objector to military service and quoted extracts from tho Bible to support his contention that he should not be deprived of his civil rights by ; reason of his religious beliefs. , The .appeal was not allowed. ! Hughes, who wiis a stud groom at Dun-' edin, admitted that ho had deserted from camp prior to the armistice, and his claim for exemption was that ho had been wrongly classified, as, he had completed one year 191 days' home service in camp in New Zealand, and was subsequently discharged. Later he was called in the ballot but failed to appear. Tho appeal was dismissed.

Eraser teed his appeal on the ground that having received the full penalty allowed for his offence at the time of his court-martial lie must protest against any further punishment being added when it could not bo Riven at the trial. After he had attested he refused to take his kit and was sentenced to two years' liard labour for disobeying the commands of his superior /officer. His TVorRhip would not allow the appeal; and informed Eraser that the legislation was introduced to cover all cases whether they occurred liefore or after the passing of the Act.- - i Heavey, who was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to one year's imprisonment, appealed on the ground that he had the misfortune to break down with lumbago whilst on leave and overstayed his leave. -He reported to a military- doctor in AYellington who told him to report at Treiitham, and fearing that ho would be placed in the cells on the transport, Heavey confessed he was afraid to report back to camp. He, consequently proceeded to Lyttelton and worked on the wharves for fifteen months before he was arrested. The appeal was dismissed. In liis statement of appeal Gould, who was a fisherman bv occupation, stated that in the first place no men of "C" class were sent out of New Zealand, • and that he had been wrongfully imprisoned, being, lie claimed, the only man of that class who had been arrested. punished, and placed on the- disfranchised list, and his family had increased by one since he had been imprisoned, which made three children in his family, and it would be a hardship on them to keep his name on tho list. He was opposed to military service on Socialistic grounds. The appenH was 'dismissed. lis TeloF"i>h—Press As«ociation. Christchurch, November 5. . Alister Beaton, a conscientious ob- ' lector, appealed before Mr. M'Carthy, S.M., against his name being included in the list of military defaulters who are deprived of civil rights. Appellant is a prisoner at Paparua, and appeared in oustody. Ho claimed to be a religious objector, as ho was a Socialist, basing his beliefs on tho .teachings;-of Christ. Tho Magistrate paid appellant's objection was to the law, and the Court was bound by the Act. Tho appeal was dismissed.