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Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 9, 11 January 1912, Page 7

"What steps will be taken to enforce registration and attendance at parade* under the Defence Act? " was a question addressed tolLieutenant-Colonel BurnettStuart, Officer Commanding the Canter, bury Military District, by a Christchurch Press reporter. Ths officer replied that everything possible would be done to get the lads to register without any friction being caused. " I want •it clearly understood that we will do, our utmost to avoid any harshness," he continued. " If- it can be shown to our satisfaction that, a' lad is quite unable through aomb cause or other to attend parades ho will be excused from doing so. If. he deliberately attempts to evade his responsibility, however, he will be handed i>v«i to the police authorities although this step will be taken only as the last resource. The penalty 15, I think, a fine of £5, or fourteen days' imprisonment. Some people seem to think that once they have paid the fine they ate under no obligation to trouble any further about the parades. But this- is quite erroneous. They can be handed over to the civil authorities to be dealt with a second or even a third time. Of course I don't anticipate any siteh extreme trouble as this, however. Personally 1 have found some of the most truculent youths quite amenable to reason. It is only a matter of coming into personal contact with them and quietly explaining the whole thin* to them, disabusing their minds of any misapprehensions they may have. In many cases I have found that the lads are themselves willing enough to attend parades, but have been restrained from doing so by their parent*. This fact ha« come out two or three times in. Court. In such instances the father will be held responsible. When once the public are fully cognisant of the scheme I do not think there ' will be jfltich trouble. Most of the opposition comes not .from the lads themselves, but from organised opposition of peopie wjw #j£ seLjglisiblfl to mxx*/ * "