MILITARY TRAINING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 23, 21 July 1911, Page 2

MILITARY TRAINING.

TWO YOUTHS FINED. FORCIBLE REMARKS BY THE MAGISTRATE. Christchurcfli, July 18. Edwin Hannan and Harry Cooko, tho last named a son of F. R. who recently declined 1 to pay a fine imposed on him for a breach of the city by-laws, today pleaded not guilty to charges of having failed to register under the Defence Act. Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., asked Hamnam why he didn't register. Hannam: "Because I don't believe in it." Mr. Bishop: "Are you going to set yourself up against the law?" Hannam: "Yes." air. Bishop: "You will find it very expensive." Continuing, the Magistrate said tlhat it was very foolish of the lad to defy the law. He was on the bench to administer t'he law, and it liad to bo obeyed. In reply to questions, Hannam said that he was nineteen years of age and was a carpenter. His father was a bootmaker, and had not encouraged him to object to registration. "Why do you object? asked Mr. Bishop, and there was no answer, uMiougih the query was repeated several times. "Now/' added the Magistrate, "why not register, and then, if occasion .should arise, draw the attention of the authorities to those aspects of the scheme to which you object?"

i "I object to military law," said HflTHiam, hesitatingly. The Magistrate explained tlhat military law was not in vogue and the matter was only one of sending in names. "I wish," he added, "'that I was young enough to send my mime in. There is the law wtftiieh .says you are to send your name in, and you should obey it. There are lots of laws to which I object, but if you wisih to become a good citizen you must obey the laws. Now I want you to reconsider this and register. We hear a lot of 'higlifalutin talk about going to gaol for principle, but you know you won't be a martyr, and there is nothing to enshrine your name on for the guidance of others—in fact,, you won't be, missed when you are gone. Don't you think you had better register?" Hannam: "No."

Mr. BisJio.p: "My persuasive powers don't seem to go for much; You are Ida.ble to a fine of £5 and will be debarred from registration as an elector. They may stop you getting married' yet. Foolish boy! Do you prefer to pay a fine?" Hannam: "Yes."

Mr. Bishop: "I do not understand' this sort of mind. Perhaps it can be accounted for." To Hannam: "What religion do you belontr to?" Hnmnsim: "I don't belong to any." Mr. Bisibop: "Then, of course, you are probably under no sort of discipline, and your mind has not been property trained. Understand that you aire fined 20s and costs, and if you do not ipay the fine you will, go to gaol. As sure as you set yourself up against mie you w® find youimself in trouble." Harry Cooke, similarly charged, was asked "why won't yon Agister ?" Defendant: "BocauM' I don't believe ill murder, and I won't, be trained to be a murderer."

The Magistrate: "Oh, that's' the line you take! Then you are fined 40s and costs."