EXPELLED FROM CAMP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18680, 9 April 1924, Page 11

EXPELLED FROM CAMP.

TWO MEN BREAK PAROLE. SPECIAL PRIVILEGE ABUSED. LECTURE 'BY COMMANDANT. PUBLIC EXPULSION CEREMONY. [BY TEiEGHAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday. Two New Plymouth territorials were expelled from* the First Battalion, Taranaki Regiment camp at the show grounds, Waiwakaiho, yesterday morning for a serious breach of discipline, they having broken their parole.

With another deliquent the men, who had also been fined, were serving a period of confinement to barracks for having been absent without leave. They had served part of the period, when on Saturday an appeal was received from a football club asking if one of the men could bo given leave for that afternoon to take part in a match. The officials of the club stated 'that they appreciated all the circumstances, but mentioned that there would be a difficulty in filling the man's place.

The fostering of a spirit of true sportsmanship is one of the aims of the Defence Department, and Captain D. E. Bremner, M.C., N.Z.S.C., the camp commandant, decided to accede to the appeal by giving the three men leave from noon until 8.30 that evening. This would allow the footballer sufficient time to go to Ins home, have a bath and tea, and arrive back in camp by the stipulated hour. The defaulters agreed to 'this course, pledging their word to return to camp by 8.30. Of the three only one returned to time. The other two men returned after midnight, when they were taken in charge by the guard.

When the men appeared before the commandant yesterday morning it was decided to expel them from tbo camp, and to apprise their employers and the sports bodies of all the circumstances. The expulsion was carried out publicly, the battalion being formed in three sides of a square, minus equipment, the defaulters, in charge of an escort, forming the fourth side. After being "dressed down" by the commandant, they were escorted to the camp gate.

The man who returned to time was informed that the remainder of his period of "C.8." had been remitted, and that if he still behaved with credit to the battalion his fine would probably be roturned.