The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1912. THE TERRITORIALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 69, 16 March 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1912. THE TERRITORIALS.

Dealing with one or two" youths at Auckland the other day, on charges ■of failing to comply'with the coinpulson service requirements of Die Defence Act, the presiding magistrate, Mr .E- C. Cutten, S.M., made some Arty sensible observations. HeAaid: With regard, to those: cases under ithe Defence Act, I should like to fay that I have had a good nurhhu’ of j’oung men before me for failing to comply with the Defence Act, and if the matter were in my hands, I should not send them to gaol, for, after all, that is what the infliction of a penalty upon obstinate men finally comes to. As they fail to do their duty to the State in the matter, I should punish them by debarring them from the right to the franchise, and probably later on from their right to claim the old age pension. It seems to me that this would be a more effective way to meet tlie difficulty than sending them to gaol, and would give them food for reflection. It is quite unreasonable that they should have all the benefits which the State confers on individual citizens, and at the same time refuse to do this duty in such an important mater. The defendant will ho convicted and fined £2 and costs.” Mr Cutten’s suggestion of methods of punishing those who obstinately and selfishly,, decline to take up their duty to the State are excellent, and would probably have a very good effect. But, on the whole, we do not think there is likely to he very much difficulty anywhere, and those misguided youths who have been ill-advised enough to so childishly defy the law are learning better manners. Many who have gone into camp with reluctance have come out from their period of training with changed ideas, and even a hankering for the next encampment. It is certainly a credit to Auckland and an indication of public feeling to find that the appeal of the Socialists to the people to create a demonstration at the Police Court when the charges came up was received in eh ill disdain, and was not acted upon in the mildest degree.