THREE MONTHS’ GAOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1943, Page 3

THREE MONTHS’ GAOL

RESERVIST FAILS TO REPORT

FOR MILITARY SERVICE.

MEMBER OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESS.

Charged with having failed to report for military service as a member of the First Division of the General Reserve, an adherent of Jehovah’s Witness, Ivan Septimus Priest, of Auckland, and formerly of Eketahuna, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour when he appeared before Mr H. P. Lawry in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning.

Senior Sergeant C. Murphy said that Priest was a reservist of the First Division. He had moved about a great deal and had failed to notify his changes of address. In June, 1942, at Auckland, Priest had made a declaration that he refused to be attested as he was a member of Jehovah’s Witness. On September 27 a registered letter had been sent from Napier ordering the reservist to report for service. Reservist did not report. .

Evidence that Priest was a member of the First Division of the reserve and was called in the ninth ballot on August 6, 1941, was given by Lieutenant G. R. Jackson, assistant area officer, Masterton. Priest said he did not consider that he was a member of the reserve. The fact that he was in the reserve, was, he said, only a matter of form. He said he would not report for any form of service because he was a Christian. Priest said he did not think he was guilty on a charge of failing to report for service as he had told an Armed Forces Appeal Board, which had dismissed his appeal, that he would not serve. “I have no option but to sentence you to three months’ gaol with hard labour,” said Mr Lawry. He added that Priest would be given another chance to serve when the sentence had been served and failing that he would be committed to a defaulters’ detention camp.

“I will still refuse to serve,” said Priest.