THE DEFENCE ACT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10607, 13 April 1912, Page 6

THE DEFENCE ACT

FAILURE TO TAKE THE OATH. TWO OASES IN MASTRRTOX. At the Mugli.tra.tas Court at Masterton yesterday, ibefore Mr L. G. Reid, S.M., Lawrence Robinson and Alfred Pauling were charged with having failed to take the oath as required under the Defence Act. , Lawrence Robinson, wearing the. red 'badge of the "passive resistors," was asked by the Magistrate if he wtould now take the oath. Accused:*"No, under no circumstances." 'His Worship: "On what grounds ?" Accused: "C ; i;n;;c:entious objections." i His Wr.nhin: "What do you call con sciontion so bjection s ? '' j Accused: ".'lkcaus-e it is not for the benefit of the mass- of the people." His Worship: " v i h.at docs not exempt you. The Act .states tbat every person who comes under the Act, and who can, must servo." Accused: "I undersan'. that." Sergeant Miller stated that he had been insructed to eay that if accused o'bjected to taking the ordinary oath, an affirmation would be acceptable. Captain Braddel! explained the nature of the affirmation required. His Worship wiid Jio accused did ■not object to the oath on. conscientious grounds, but he objected to the Whole scheme. (To accused): A fine won't exempt you from being brought .•up again. 'Will' yon be prepared to drill under this, olfcr? The accused hesitated, and the Magistrate said 'lie would adjourn th:> case for a thort period in order to gin'e accused time to consider the matter. Accused: "Xb, I am going to stick out till the- last. I've never been in Court before and have never broken the law," His Worship: "It Is wnply a rase of your opinion against the law. There are some laws that all of us object to. For instance, 1 don't like having to ■pay income tax, but I've got to do it, as it's the law. The law in regard -t'o the military training is very reasonable, and there is nothing wrong about it. An objection to the old volunteer, system was that there wa,s not enough training. You are making a mistake iby not taking the oath. Are you prepared to think over the offer made?" I Accused: "sNo." IBs Worship! "Well I must fine you 40s and costs 7s. Do you wish time to pay the fine?" Aboused replied in the affirirrJive. His Worship: "How old arc you, and what cY> you do f:>r a living?" Accused: "I'm twenty-one, and in (business as a nurseryman." His Worship: "By yourself?" Accused: "With others." Sergeant Miller: "With his father." Mr Re id allowed accused ten days in which to pay the fine. The other accused, Alfred I'aulin.g, after the charge had "been read to him, asked if a person who took the loath under the volunteer system was required to also take, it under the new scheme. His Worship: "Yes." Accused: "I've taken the oath ijivo or three times aa a volunteer, but I can't take' it under the compulsory system." Sergeant Miller: "Accused is only splitting straws." , His Worship (to accused): ' T think ytou ishould take the oath." Accused: "No, I'll see it through." In reply to Mr Reid, accused said lie was twenty years of age.

Sergenitt-iMajor McOrystall inf armed His Worship Slat if accused would igive an undertaking that he would attend >the drills lie would not be asked to take the oath.

Accused: "I'm prepared to drill, tout I won't take the oath."

Accused further - stated that he might not ho ah!e to attend drill ev©l7 liiigjhit,. as, for instance, there might he hand practice, which he would require to attend. Sergeant-Major McGrystall stated that every provision, was made for men ,to get off fnnm drill when a gc<od reason was forthcoming and certain notice given. • The Magistrate adjourned. the case '(tall the- next sitting of the Court, in order that accused could.fulfil his promise to attend drill.