SETTLING UP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 308, 28 December 1915, Page 6

SETTLING UP.

WITH THE LAW AND SOCIETY. A RECRUIT'S RESPONSIBILITIES. SEQUEL TO A DARGAVILLE ARREST. Ten days ago a man was found hiding , aboard the steamer Odland, at Dargaville, in an attempt to get a passage to Sydney from New Zealand without having a permit to travel. He was handed over to the military authorities, but waa later discovered to be a man who was "wanted" by the police, and consequently he was brought I. lore Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at Auckland this morning, on two charges—one, of having kept liquor for sale in the proclaimed native area oi Raetibi, and the other of having attempted to leave New Zealand without having first obtained a permit. The circumstances outlined by Chief Detective JMcilahon were unusual. The man's name, stated the Chief Detective, was George Millar, and )ve had got implicated in a brawl at Raetihi, near Ohakune, in the King Country. This led to tbe discovery by the police that he had purchased seven bottles of whisky for the purpose of illicit sale, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. .That was at the end of November, but nothing further was heard of him until a man who gave the name of D'Arcy was discovered up at Dargaville endeavouring to e t across to Sydney by the steamer Otiland without having a permit. He then explained that he wanted to get across to Sydney to enlist, and when in charge of the military authorities he reiterated his desire to enlist, and was passed for service. After being accepted he confessed that his real name was Millar, and there was a warrant out for his arrest. That was the reason for his desiring to enlist in Australia, in the first place, but on thinking matters over he had decided to confess, and to endeavour to get away to the front with a clear slate. There was nothing criminal about Millar, but he had previously being convicted of keeping liquor for sale in the King Country. Mr. W. Hackctt, for Millar, said that the facts had been fairly stated. Millar was sincerely desirous of serving his country, and it was really for that purpose he had tried to get "to Sydney, but having been accepted for service here he wanted to make a clean break and not have the old warrant hanging over his head. His relatives and wife had concurred in his enlisting, but they also desired him to start away with a clean sheet. Counsel pointed out that there were several precedents for giving persons who were not of the kind to be a danger to their fellow-soldiers a chance to rehabilitate themselves with society by serving with the reinforcements. His Worship pointed out that Millar, foT a second offence of keeping liquor for sale in a proclaimed native area, was liable to twelve months' imprisonment,, while the penalty for the offence of attempting to leave the country .without a permit was three months' imprisonment or a fine of £100, Still, the former matter was more a social than a criminal offence, while it was clear that Millar had not been trying to evade military service. Under the circumstances he wourn be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when tailed on, with a provision that he should report daily to the police until he was drafted into catap by the military authorities.