DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 38, 13 February 1913, Page 5

DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

A PASSIVE RESISTER. (Per Press Association.) Invercargill, February 12. A youth named L. Padget was arrested by the police to-day and handed over to the military authorities for detention. Padget had not paid his fine for refusing to comply with the provisions of the Defence Act, and will now have to put in twenty-eight days’ drill. He will be allowed time off for his ordinary employment and put in hack drills at 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. THAT SOUTHLAND LEASE. Invercargill, February 13. Mr John Brighton, whose name has been somewhat freely used in connection with the much-discussed Southland leases, called at the Southland Times office and complained that certain newspapers had used his name in a way that was not warranted. “I have no properties,” said Mr Brighton, “I have never yet voted at a political election, and I don’t intend to.” Mr Brighton appeared to take the view that one Government was as bad as another, and he went on to say that he had no sympathy with the attempt made to manufacture Parliamentary capital out of his lease. “I am certainly againstMr Massey in this business,” said Mr Brighton, “because he has parted with the property of the people. I intend to get my titles, but I do not intend to profit by them. I shall use them in accordance with my principles as a Socialist. I contend thatMr Massey has made a great blunder, but those who are attacking him fail to point out. one aspect of the matter. My leases cover about half a square mile, and that is all that Mr Massey has parted with. Other Governments with which Mr Massey had nothing to do have sold eighty square miles in my district, and all of it is coal-bearing—some of it with a seam twice the thickness of

that in my land—and the bargain was just as had from the State’s point of view. lam against this entirely. 1 am against Mr Massey for these reasons, but what he has done is ail nothing compared to what has been done by others.”