DEFIANT JUGO-SLAV.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1863, 10 August 1918, Page 3

DEFIANT JUGO-SLAV.

OBJECTION TO SERVICE. ONE MONTH’S IMPRISONMENT. Failure to report for work to the resident engineer at Okahukura was admitted iu the Auckland Police Court,, before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., by Joseph G. Vodanovich, one of tho 34 Jugo-Slavs who were prosecuted recently at Taumarnnui for neglecting to carry out national service. Mr Selwyn Mays said that after Mr E. Rawson, S.M., had given his decision, the defendant and others were advised by their own counsel, and instructed by the commissioner, Mr J. Cullen, to return to work and obey orders. Defendant and eight others, however, did not return to work, and six of them came to Auckland. Mr Cullen took special pains to make defendant acquainted with the position, and served him with a further notice to return to work, but he refused to accept it, saying he would not go to Okahukura. Apparently it was a case of a man refusing to do national service, and trying to go back to the old conditions of working and earning 16s to £1 a day. Of the six men who came to Auckland, defendant had been the most defiant. Defendant said he had refused to go to Okahukura, but be did not object to working elsewhere. Okahukura did not suit bis health, as the work there was too heavy. The Magistrate said defendant must obey orders. Defendant was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.