COMPULSORY TRAINING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 47, 13 July 1912, Page 3

COMPULSORY TRAINING.

A COUPLE OF YOUTHS BROUGHT TO BOOK.

1 In the Stratford S.M. Court-yesterday, before Mr. \V. G. Kenrick, S.M., two youths learned that the Defence Act was passed to be enforced. They had both failed to take the oath, and had not attended camp. Captain Cardale, Adjutant of the Queen Alexandra's Own Mounted Bifles, appeared to represent the Defence Department; Walter Henry Franks was charged With failing to take the oath of allegiance, tin; charge -setting out that he had -failed to attend a parade called for the express purpose. He pleaded guilty. "I am 1 quite willing to attend all parades," he said, "but circumstances didn't permit me to do so. I would have taken the oath, but I didn't have the chance to do so." He also said that he was milking 20 cows, and was hay-mak-ing. As it was he lost a lot of money through being unable to get all of the fifty acres> in.

The Magistrate: Surely you could get somebody to assist you? His Worship added that one day he had a man come into court and swear he could not get work. The next day a man came before him and complained that no labor was available. Continuing, he said that accused had said he was willing to take the oath, but, by not doing so, the authorities had concluded that he. was unwilling. "We don't want to punish you if you are willing to take the oath," he said, "but, at the same time, you must comply with the law." Sergeant McNeely remarked that the young men of Taranaki had accepted this call very well,, .and it would be a pity to see these young fellows spoilt by bad examples. Accused was fined 20s, but, providing that he. took the oath within seven'days, the fme would be reduced to ss. With, regard to the second charge of failing to attend camp, accused also pleaded guilty and was fined £1 and 7s costs."-

Herbert Mehertens was .similarly I charged, and pleaded -guilty- to both 1 charges, and said; he .was, unable to atI tend the parade to take the oath on , nccount of the milking. As to the [charge of having neglected to attend the camp, he could not get a horse, his own being lame at the time. Captain Cardale informed the court that this accused had on several.occasions tried to prevent .other men. from attending the camp, and called them ■names, if they did so. There was absolutely no legitimate excuse for the boy having failed 'to attend the camps. ■Every notice had been delivered, and none had been returned. Accused was one of those men who had been making statements lo other Territorials,' and : called them-all. sorts of names for earryj ing out their obligation to their country. | Accused admitted that this was true.

His Worship, addressing the accused,said,.that no one liked-to be'laughed at, and-accused would surely find .that one ojf ~these days, if he-continued to act an. the' way lie had done,' he would be severely <lealt with by the men. He. asked for an undertaking that accused would never act.,in this,way ( aga;in,./and this .wiis given. ' • Mehertens' was .then, fined' 30s-and 7s costs for neglecting to attend camp, and 5s for refusing to take the, oath.

I Bo,th accused w,ere .sworn in by Cap'tain Cardale before they left tho courthquse. •