RESISTING TERRITORIALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 89, 10 December 1912, Page 5

RESISTING TERRITORIALS.

(Per Press Association.) Dunedin, December 9. lii the Police Court to-day, before Mr. Bartholomew, S.M., some forty Territorials and Senior Cadets were prosecuted for alleged breaches of the Defence Act. In some cases convictions were recorded, and in a few fines were imposed, while others were adjourned for two months to allow the lads to make up their parades. In a case where a batch of lads were charged with failing to_ pay a fine imposed by the Commanding Officer, counsel for the defence contended that there was no power given to officers to inflict a penalty. There must be a specific regulation giving the Commanding Officer jurisdiction to fine. There was another point he intended to raise and that was that the certificate was defective. It did not make it evidence sufficient to justify the Statute for proof of offence. The point was also raised that the fine was set out to be for a breach of a regulation. The fine was acutally inflicted for two breaches of regulations, which counsel submitted was not in accordance with the law. In the case of one lad it was shown that a summons was issued too soon, and the case was dismissed. The Magistrate reserved his decision on the points raised. In the Police Court this afternoon James Holland was charged with unlawfully assaulting Alfred Walker, and further, with failing to render personal service. He pleaded guilty to the first charge and not guilty to the second. Evidence showed that the lad had been continually warned about his behaviour, and finally he assaulted a colour-sergeant. The Magistrate described the assault as a cowardly one, and on that charge imposed a fine of £2 and costs (30s), and on the second the defendant was fined 10s and costs.

CADETS HEAVILY FINED. The treatment of Territorials and Cadets in the Dominion when before the Courts is light compared to what the Australian system enforces. At the Murwillumbah (New South Wales) Police Court, before the local Magistrate, for failing to complete the statutory number of parades, Cadet H. Sweetman was fined £lO, with costs of- Court 6s, and committed to the custody of Sergeant-Major Thomas for 58 hours, in default two months’ hard labour in Grafton Gaol. Cadet J. Hanna, was fined £B, with costs oi Court and committed to the custody of the Sergeant-Major for 41 hours, in default one month’s hard labour m Grafton Gaol. Cadet W. Fox was fined £5 and costs of Court, and committed to the custody of the SergeantMajor for 18 hours, in default a fortnight in the local gaol. Eight others, who had completed the number of drills since the first appearance before the Court, were fined each £5 and costs of Court 6s.