GUILTY OF DESERTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24281, 23 May 1942, Page 6

GUILTY OF DESERTION

SOLDIER SENT TO PRISON!

ABSENT NEARLY A YEAR . (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday

A soldier who was absent from hit unit for nearly a year has been sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour by a court-martial in the Wellington district. He is Gunner Ernest Donald Savare Robson, aged 1 27. He was found guilty of desertion oa active service. Having been warned to proceed for overseas service, Robson absented himself without leave from .June 25, 1941, until he surrendered himself in civilian clothes at Palmerstoa North on May 4, 1942. REGISTRATION DUTY NOT MANY DEFAULTERS (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Friday A suggestion that the issue of ratio* books, being dependent on the production of Social Security registration books, would unearth a large number of defaulters, has not been borne out, defaulters being relatively few. Many thousands of young people requiring ration books were only reaching the registration age when th» scheme started. Annually there are approximately 30,000 persons attaining the age of 16 in New Zealand. WITHOUT A HOME - TRAINING COLLEGE WORK The work of the Auckland Teacher** Training College is due to resume oa Tuesday, but how and where is undecided. The Education Board has put proposals for the acquisition of premises before the Education D e P ar tment and it is hoped to receive a decision from Wellington during the week-end, although even that might not mean an immediate solution. About 40 male students available ia the city responded to an appeal yesterday to attend at the Normal School at Epsom to pack the college effects. There the cases will remain until the next move becomes clear.

The second-year students will again be spread around the primary schools on Tuesday, while first-year students will report at the University College hall. The University College does not resume lectures until the week after next, which allows a small breatbiiigspace while the fate of the training college is decided.

OBJECTORS' APPEALS

BOYS' WELFARE OFFICER (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Friday A conscientious objector, James Tay» lor Ferguson, boys' welfare officer, employed by the Education Department, who appeared before the Xo. 4 Armed Forces Appeal Board, said that he had been a pacifist for 14 years. He considered force was futile, and that if the Church exerted its influence as a body there would be no war. Further evidence is to be heard. Another objector, Ivan Lessor Levy, employed in the Government Printing Office, said that, as a Roman Catholic, he believed in the immortality of tha soul and life after death, and he could not face God with a guilty conscience. His appeal was dismissed, subject to the performance of non-combatant service. Colin William Morrison, clerk, an objector on conscientious grounds, emEloyed by the Native Department, had is adjourned appeal allowed after additional testimony had been given.

SLY GROG-SELLING

WOMAN FINED £25 . 1 (O.O.) TAUPO, Friday Before Mr. J. Miller, S.M., to-day, Ada Matilda Maxwell, a married woman, aged 46, of Mokai, pleaded guilty to a charge of sly grog-selling and was fined £25. The police said grave disorder by froth Europeans and Maoris, particularly on dance nights, wai | causing much concern. LIQUOR FOR MAORIS <O.C.) TAUPO, Friday A fine of £ls was imposed on Patrick Creagh, aged 56, of Marca, by Mr. J. Miller, S.M., for supplying, liquor to || Maoris. The police said the men con- | cerned were employees of a sawmill» • which was classed as an essential in-' dustry, and several of them were holding up the industry by not being fit t** attend work, k[|