WAR REGULATIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 50, 26 September 1916, Page 5

WAR REGULATIONS.

REFUSAL TO EXHIBIT MILITARY SERVICE POSTER. DEFENDANT FINED £SO. At the Christchurch Magistrate's Court last week, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey. S.M., George Samuel Thomson was charged that on September 1, in breach of the duty imposed on him bv War Regulation No. 3, he had omitted to exhibit a military service notice in a conspicuous place on the premises occupied by him as an office at 63, Cathedral Square. He pleaded not guilty. Mr Raymond, K.C.. who appeared for the prosecution, read-the regulations dealing with the matter, and said that it was incumbent on any person receiving the notices by posfr or otherwise to post them in a conspicuous place. On September 1 a notice was served on Thomson by a postal official at his office, which was a Trade Index concern. He refused to have anything to do with it, and declared that he was president of the Conscription Repeal League, and had conscientious objections to displaying it. Subsequently when Detective Ward called on him he admitted that he had destroyed the notice.

W. H. T. Allwright, asistaht clerk at the Post Office, said that in company with F. E. King, a letter carrier, he called at Thomson's office, and' met him at the foot of the stairs. King handed him a military service poster. He refused to have anything to do with it, saying that they could take it to his office but In would not post it. They then took it to his office, and gave it to his typist, calling her attention to the printing on the. edge compelling him to post it. F. E. King, a letter carrier, gave similar evidence, adding that he had impressed on Thomson the necessity for posting it in. his office. The accused asked if the witness had taken Allwright wit!! him to every office to take notes on papoi%and pencil of what was done. Detective Ward said that he saw accused at his office on September 4, and told him that the postal authorities had complained of his failure to post the notice. Tlie accused said that he knew he was liable but he was president of the Conscription Repeal League and had destroyed the poster. The accused, who electd n6t to be sworn, said that in his case there had been singling out by sending a clerk along with the postman to take notes. "That is done as a precaution," said the Magistrate, "so that a prosecution shall not fail for lack of corroboration." The accused commenced a harangue about what might happen under militarism. * "I cannot listen to this," said the Magistrate. "You are wasting my time. It has nothing to do with the case." , . "I am an International Socialist," shouted the accused, and "object not only to war, but to conscription, one of the things that is getting do.vn the working classes." "You are convicted and fined £50," said the Magistrate.