TERRITORIALS IN COURT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 33, 13 June 1913, Page 5

TERRITORIALS IN COURT.

a VARIETY OF CHARGES. FAILURE TO ATTEND DRILL. * At tho Court this morning a lad C named L. B. Mills was charged with having failed to attend parade with tho Senior Cadets at Eltham on April 9th. Sergeant-Major Bonar gave evidence that defendant used to parade at . M hirst, where he attended five drills. He then went to Eltham but attended no parades, and he gave no notice of his change of address, if* In Eltham he was twice warned to .attend. Later ho went to Whangamomona, again failing to give notice of his change of address. W itness saw defendant in a billiard saloon at Whangamomoha and informed him • thjvt a parade was taking place that afternoon, but defendant did not attend.

Defendant said ho had attended every parade since April 23rd, the day he saw the Sergeant-Major at Whangamomona. He was only five weeks in Eltham, and did not intend to stay, so that he did not soo the uso of getting transferred.. The S.M. drew defendants attention to the fact that there was no necessity to transfer. Defendant said he could not get away to attend the drill in Eltham. The S.M. said that if an employer refused to allow an employee to attend drill jhe should be reported to the authorities. Defendant: My. employer did not prevent me going, but I had to do my work.

The S.M. said that continued disobedience would earn defendant twenty-eight days’ detention at Wellington, and ho would probably find that the easier course was to put in the parades in the first place. In Jlawera all tbe Terirtorials had now come to recognise that compliance with the Act was the better course. Defendant should remember that he could attend drills although not living in the town where ho was enrolled. He should also bear in mind to write promptly regarding change of address. Many men came before the Court, who would not have been summoned if they had taken that trouble. In summing up the S.M. said he would take into consideration the fact that defendant had since attended all parades—otherwise the penalty might be severe. Defendant would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. A LOST RECORD BOOK.

The same defendant was also charged with failing £o produce Government property—a duplicate record book. He explained that he left it at his home at Midhirst. After he went away and he was asked to produce it he wrote home for it but it could not be found. Thd" case was adjourned till June 27th in order to enable defendant to search for the book. QUESTION OF EXEMPTION.

Roy James Mudford (Mr Stanford) pleaded guilty to failing to attend the j Jastr. camp at Oringi. , Sergeant-Major "Sonar said defendant was enrolled witn F. Company of the Xlth Regiment, and had come to Stratford without notifying hi? change of address. He had put in very little drill during the past year. Mr Stanford said the boy’s father kept a motor garage and was always busy, so that it would have been inconvenient for him to attend camp. That was really, no excuse, but defendant had always relied on escaping duty, as he held his right hand was in such a condition as to entitle him to exemption. In Counsel’s opinion, the hand was so bad that defendant could not hold a rifle. \ The S.M. said the condition of the hand could have no bearing on the present .proceedings. If the hand wa* bad defendant should, have procured exemption in the manner prescribed. Counsel suggested that the case be adjourned for a week, an application lor exemption to be made in the meantime.

The S.M. said he could not agree tc that course. It was putting the cart before the horse, and would create a bad precedent. It ■would enable men to shirk drill and then shelter behind a plea such as that put forward by defendant in the present case. »

The Sergeant-Major said that the correct course was to apply in writing for exemption. A' medical board of three was appointed, and if exemption' was not granted, the applicant had to pay the cost of the inquiry. Counsel stated that defendant had made a verbal application for exemption. The S.M. said the course was an unwise one. He would like to hear further evidence as to the correct

procedure, and the steps taken to Acquaint Territorials with the steps Necessary to be taken.

An adjournment was then taken to enable Dr. Carbery to attend and give evidence. On resuming. Dr. Carbery gave evidence that shortly before the casual camp, defendant saw him and asked thqt his hand be examined. Witness said he could not grant an exemption, as the regulations laid it down that this should be done by a medical board consisting of medical officers of the staff. Temporary exemptions could be granted, but now it was impossible for a single medical officer to grant complete exemption from service. The medical board must be called for if exemption is desired after passing as fit by the medical officer. The medical boards usually sat during camps, as at other times tho expense was somewhat heavy. Tho S.M. said that at tho time of the camp, defendant was not exempt-

ed and did not take the necessary steps to get a certificate. If defendant was finally not exempted ho would lose a camp, .which could not bo replaced. Tho Court was tho wrong place for a plea such as defendant’s. Defendant was greatly to blame for not at once taking the steps when informed of them by the doctor. The S.M. asked what amount of drill defendant had done.

Tho Sergeant-Major said that in 1911-12, defendant had put in one drill and in 1912-13 ho had clone none at all. Defendant frequently changed his address.

The S.M. said the names of defaulters had been placed in the hands of the police throughout the Dominion, and the Defence Department intended to have all such found anti punished,

The Sergeant-Major said the examining doctor must have examined the hand, which defendant said was in bandages at the time of examination. In reply to the Sergeant-Major, the S.M. said that until defendant had a certificate of exemption, ho would have to attend all parades. Defendant was fined £3, with costs 7s, in default fourteen days’ military detention.