DO YOUR DUTY!

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 275, 30 April 1915, Page 2

DO YOUR DUTY!

ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN. TERRITORIALS WII.oWaDE DRILLS. Some plain remarks concerning the duty now falling to the young men of New Plymouth were made in the .Magistrate's Court, yesterday, when a number of territorials were called before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., to explain why they had neglected to attend parades. Sergeant-llajor Ilesp, who conducted the prosecutions on behalf of the Defence Department, said that the territorial parades in Sew Plymouth were not attended as well as would be expected at the present time. It was true that there were not sufficient uniforons for the men, for all the uniforms had been called in to supply the men of the Expeditionary Force. .Many territorials never attended any parades, and never showed any desire to attend them. He thought l.'iiit at ;t time like* the present, when ti:e country was at war, men who failed to do their drills should be severely dealt with.

The Magistrate agreed with these remarks, and emphasised how necessary it was at present for territorials to fit themselves as soldiers. It was t'Ae duty of the young men left here to fit tluMiiselves to take the places of the men who had gone to the war. He wished it to he made perfectly clear that in imposing small fines he hoped the boys would not think they would he let oil' lightly a second time, for he was inflicting small fines now in the hope that it would induce territorials to do their duty. It seemed to him that these were examples where the yoiith of Taranaki were not doing their duty. Sergt.-Major Hesp said that his reremarks applied particularly to New Plymouth.

POSITION OF TAXI-DRIVERS. The first young man/ to be charged with failing to attend drill was Frederick ]!. Hudson, who did not appear, lie was represented by Mr. A. 11. Johnstone, who entered a plea of guilty. ICouiiftl said that defendant was a motor-ear driver, and his work was of a nature which rendered it impossible for him to attend drills as required. In view of this it was proposed to apply for exemption, but that could not bo done without notice. The Magistrate agreed that it would only by chance that a motor-ear driver would be able to attend drill. He could not see how a motor-car driver could keep any appointments except those of his work. It was a case in which exemption should be applied for. As the defendant had not attended any drills for a year he was fined 10s without costs. Thomas Matliicson, another motor-car driver, was also charged with failing to attend drill. Mr. Johnstone entered a plea of guilty, and said that the defendant did not desire to shirk. Ins drill, hut his employment would not permit it. He was an employee, and could not leave his work to attend drills. An exemption was to be applied for in his case. A fine of 5s without costs was imposed. Frederick Hawke (Mr A. R. Standish), another motor-car driver, was lined 10s and costs 7s. BUSINESS BEFORE DRILL. In the case of Cecil Johnston who had also failed to attend drills, Mr. Ron. Qnilliam entered « plea of guilt}'. Counsel said that the defendant and" his brother were proprietors of a grocery business, ami the brother having volunteered for active service, the defendant was left to carry on the responsibilities of the business. Defendant was not a shirker, for lie had attended two camps, and in order to make up for the drills lie had not attended he had put in an extra week. If he were forced to attend drills his business would suffer.

The Magistrate: He should have applied for exemption. Mr. Quilliam said it was intended to apply for exemption. Tt was admitted that the defendant had not attended drills, not through slackness, but rather that he might keep Ids business together. Sergt.-Ma.jor Hesp said that the do-' fondant had been convicted on four occasions for not attending drill. A fine of Ul and costs 7s vas imposed.

OTHER CASES. several other eases of failure to attend drill came before the Court, Harold (limn, 'Arthur ,1. Hawkins. Reginald IT. Oordge, Charles Cran and Stanley lieauelpamp were each lined 10s and costs "s, and fines of 5s and costs 7s wore imposed in each of the following cases:— Reginald ,T. Brokonshire, Norman Healy, David .lames, Eliot King, George Knight, Russell Matthews, Alfred Morey, "Raymond Okev, Laurie. 'Pepperill, Wiiliam D. Roebuck. Xorman White, Wilfred fioorffe r.lanchanl, Edgar Doucli, Ernest Elliott and Albert .V. Cunson.