MILITARY TRAINING.

Evening Star, Issue 14626, 24 July 1911, Page 5

MILITARY TRAINING.

A MEETING OF PROTEST. ! [Per United Pukss Association.] WELLINGTON, July 24. A meeting of protect againt-L compulsory training was held laet night. It was a. doubtful success from the promoters' point of view. More than half those present were young men, enthusiastically in favor of the scheme. Mr W. Bedford presided, and aeked tho audience to sing tho ' Song of Revolt. No. 4.' This eventuated as a. solo, but w;is speedily drowned in guffaws. A resolution— ■" That this meeting are strongly opposed to compulsory military training, as it ia in direct opposition to the great tradition;-: of freedom upheld by Great Britain, and demand the repeal of the Act," was supported by barely half the audience. The supporters of military training then rose and cheered FAILING TO REGISTER. A youth n-rned Peter Thomson, was charged at Nelson with failing to register as a Territorial. Au officer of the Defence Department stated that defendant bad not registered, and his father had leligious scruples against military service, and had declined to permit him to register. Tin l Magistrate said the father had no standin,;;. It was the boy lie had to deal with. Flo had made up his mind about the matter. As a. matter of fact, the father was aiding and abetting his f.ou to defy the law. and was equally liable. It would be absurd if tho .statutes of the counlry were In be set ai-ide in that way. It was anarchy, nothing ek". Defendant must choose between his father ami the law. and the law had tho first claim. Asked again, defendant said he woidd register, but his'father intervened and said he was not to register. Defendant then paid he would not rogkter. lie \v:-m convicted and i lined £5. The said that if the amount, of the. line was not forthcoming on the i«-'iie of the warrant he .vmi'd i;:: the default. The lather e:dd his son would leave the country.