"The Cat Act."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 73, 17 July 1914, Page 5

"The Cat Act."

TERRITORIALS IN COURT. 1 A TRIO OF?* DEFAULTERS. ' V* . X Charges against Territorials aro not bow bo numerous as they used to bo, but at every sitting of the Court one ,or two come up, the number this morning being three. THE ONLY MALE. . \* !h 1 r • ■ . ; . ■ Patrick John Breen was charged w|th failing to attend annual comp.. On his behalf Mr Macalister pleaded not guilty and explained that defendant’s mother received verbal exemption from one drill and she understood it was for ail camps. Sergt-Major McGiade said that defendant had had ample verbal and written notice of the camp. On April ,15th defendant wrote the office applying for exemption, but his application to the Court for exemption was dated June 26th. Mr Macalister said defendant was the only male on his mother’s farm and his help was absolutely necessary. There was no intention to irritate the Defence Department. . Sergt-Major McGiade said defendont had been very plainly warned that if he failed to attend the camp he would be taking the law into his own hands. The S.M. said he would the light fine of 20s, with 7s costs. Defendant should attend camp as he did not attend drills—to let him off from both drills and camp would be too much. In future, he understood, the annual camps would be held in more convenient places. It should be possible to get somebody to do defendant’s work during the time of the -camp. Defendant’s application for permanent exemption from attending camp was refused. ✓ . GOT NO RECORD BOOK. ■ • James Michael Carroll pleaded not guilty to failing to attend drill on July Bth. He stated that he understood he was exempt as he had not received the usual record-book. i r Sergt-Major Bonar said defendant Jhad come from Nelson. He had been duly enrolled there, but had done no training and had left without notifying his change of address. Defendant said" he had notified his change of address. A fine of 40s, with 7s costs, was imposed, in default fourteen days’ military detention.

‘ ‘ MINUS THE UNIFORM. Carlton Healy pleaded guilty to failing to attend drill of 94 Company Senior Cadets on June 26th. Sergt-Major Bonar said that for the parades on June sth, 12th, and 19th, defendant ( paraded without uniform. He was absent altogether on June 26th and at susequent parades had attended without uniform. On July 10th, when ordered off parade for not wearing his uniform defendant caused a gojod deal of bother. A heavy fine was not sought, but the discipline in the ranks was not as good this year as •last year. There was in Court a Cadet who i was an adept at what he called “the cat act.” He was attending Court to; see what happened to Healy. If this “cat act” Cadet was caught he would apepar before the Court. On receiving a propose of improvement in future the S.M. imposed a fine o fss, with 7s costs.