THE DEFENCE ACT.

Evening Star, Issue 14966, 28 August 1912, Page 7

THE DEFENCE ACT.

CONTUMACY DEALT WITH. [Pee United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 28. “ It is a foregone conclusion, your Worship, that my client will go to gaol rather than pay the fine,” said Mr O’Regan, at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. Mr Riddell had just imposed a fine of 40s on Robert Hcgg, who had failed to render any personal service whatever under (he Defence Act. His solicitor stated that Hogg had previously been a member of a volunteer corps, but objected to tho compulsion under the Defence Act. “Do I understand that he refuses to render any service at all ? Will he not loin an ambulance corps vi some non-com-batant branch ?” “ No, your Worship,” said Mr o’Regan. “He absolutely defies the military authorities; not the Court." Yesterday Mr Riddell gave hie reserved decision with regard to another aspect of Hogg’s case. He said he considered that if Territorials had taken the oath of alio gianco before being drafted from volunteer companies hit ‘the Territorials, then it was unnecessary- for them to take any further oath. Mr o’Regan remarked that was not his client’s point. His argument was that, never having registered as a Territorial, he could not be forced to attend parades, His Worship replied that he did not think it necessary to register a second time if the individual were (like the defendant) drafted from the volunteers to the Territorials automatically. The question of punishment was held over until this morning, when Hogg was dealt with as above.