COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10291, 20 July 1911, Page 6

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING.

FAILING TO REGISTER,

TWO STUBBORN BOYS

By Telearaph — Press Association

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night

Edwin Hannam ar.-ci Harry Cooke, the latter being a son of F. R. Cooke, who recently declined to pay a fine imposed on him for a breach of the' city by-laws, yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of having failed to register under the Defence Act. Mr Bishop, S.M., asked Hanna::i. why he did not rtgister. Hi'rv.nuv Because I don't believe in it

Mr Bishop: Are you going to set yourself up against the law? Han nam : Yes. Mr Bishop: You will find it very expensive. The Magistrate' said it was very foolish of a lad to defy the law. He was on the Bench tc- administer the law, and it had to be obeyed. In reply to questions, Hannam said that he was nineteen years of age, and was a carpenter. His father was "a bootmaker, and bad not encouraged him to object to registration. "Why do you object?" asked Mr Bishop, and there was no answer, although 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 these aspects of the scheme of which you ohject?" "I ohject to military law," sa-i:l Hannam hesitatingly. The Magistrate explained that 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 name in. There is a law which says you are i»o send your name in, and you should ohey it. There are lots of laws w> which I ohject. but if you wish to become a good citizen you must obey the laws. Now, I want you to re-consider ■this and register. We hear a lot of 'high-falutin' talk about going to gaol for principle, but you know you won't be a martyr, and there is notli • ing to enshrine your name for the guidance of others. In fact, you won't be missed when you are gone. Don't vou think you had better register?" . _ * Hannam. No.

Mr Bishop: Mv persuasive powers don't seem to go for much. You'am liable to .a fine of £5, and will be debarred from registering as anelector. They may stop yoi getting married yet, foolish boy! Do you prefer to pay a fine? Han nam: Yes. Mr Bishop : You force me into Jhi.-? position ? Hannam: Yes. Mr Bishop : I do not understand this sort of mind. Perhaps it can bo accounted for. (To Flannam): What religion do you belong to ? Hannam: I don' fc belong to any Mr Bishop: Then of course you are probably under no sort of discipline, and your mind has not been properly drained. Understand thait you are fined 20s and costs, and if you do not pay the fine you v ill go to gaol. As sure as yon set yourself up against mo you will find yourself in trouble. Harry Cooke, 'similarly charged. was asked, "Why won't you register?" Cooke drew hir-'telf up with fi~o feet something of dignity, and said in terse tones: "Because I don't believe in murder and I won't Iq trained to be a murderer!" The thunderbolt did not disconcert the Magistrate. "Oh, that's tho line you take. Thoa you are fined 40s and costs."