FAILING TO REGISTER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 110, 10 May 1916, Page 5

FAILING TO REGISTER.

ANTI-MILITARISTS CHARGED. DISAVOWAL OP LIABILITY. TWO YOUNG MEN FINED. HEISTCHUECH, May 7. Charged with failing to register under th e provisions of the Defence Act, 1909, William Templeton Horne appeared at the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M. Mr. S. G„ Raymond K.C., who appeared for the prosecution, said that the defendant , pleaded that being the son of an. American, he was exempt from training. Mr. Raymond read the sections of the Naturalisation Act, of 1870, in, which th e son of an alien, born in the country, was deemed to be a native bom citizen of the country.

Constable Williams deposed that in. December last he saw the defendant, who refused to sign the form. At the same time he condemned militarism, and claimed that he was an Americas subject. The defendant was on the electoral roll. ■ -

Defendant: I do not dispute the fact that. I voted. • ..-.. - ..,•:.. »i»

I Mr. Bailey: And iyet you are not a , British subject! I Edward Templeton Home, father of the-'defendant, stated that his boys were American subjects, and .bad complied with all the regulations. The defendant's ease was now being tried iri>." i abide by what the Washington authorities stated. To Mr. Ka3-mond: All his sons were born in New Zealand. Defendant was born in Invereargill. He and his son. had not taken a leading past in antimilitarism. Witness was undoubtedliy an anti-militarist. He was not a naturalised British subject. He had exexercised his vote on the property qualification. He .had property at Cashmere Hills and St. Albans. » • ,

In giving evidence the defendant, in an American accent,, which gradually wor.c- off, said that he had taken the oath of allegiance to America before Mr. Frank Graham, the Consul in Christchurch. For some time he had been an officer of the anti-militarist organisation in Christchurch. "Then, if you were an independent citizen," said Mr. Raymond, severely, "what right had you to interfere with, the obligations of those who were in, this country as British subjects?' 7 "I was not" interfering." ' "Did you not send a telegram to th e Minister for Defence?'"—"Yes." "Well, what was in it?" —"I asked for the immediate release of the men. who had been taken to Ripa Island at the point of the bayonet." "You interfered with men who,; as British subjects, refused to do their duty?"—"No." "Did you not threaten to march at the head of 200 men to effect thein release?"—"l am not prepared to say that." i

"You know you did so," said Mr. Raymond. "You have exercised your privilege of voting as a British, subject?"—"No, as a citizen of the United States."

"But you made a declaration that you Avere a British subject." The defendant announced that he was quite prepared to defend New Zealand if an invasion took place. If he had to tnain he conld do it'ht America, His sympathies were not with Germany. If he had more time he would -have telegraphed to the American Consul-General to come down at once.

"Yet you sent an impudent letter to the group officer," said Mr. Raymond, "that yon had received your seventeenth notice and that the' Defence Department -n-as eve.-vH O j n presenting xon. "'—"Thnt is so." Th c magistrate said that undoubtedly the- defendant was by birth a British subject and entitled to register. A fine of 40/ was imposed. "R-v-liard Home was .-b*.vaed with w. similar offence. Hi s defence was precisely tie same. He was fined 40/.