FAILURE TO ATTEND PARADE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14363, 31 July 1917, Page 3

FAILURE TO ATTEND PARADE.

Several territorials appeared beforo Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., to-day on charges of being absent from parade — either on the 13th or 20th inst. Arthur Henry Pitcher pleaded guilty and offered no explanation.- — A fine of £1 and costs 7s w*as imposed. W. Loach did not appear, but sent' a letter stating he had not been able to j attend parade, as he was busy making furniture for himself. He had notified the authorities at Ashbulrton of his change of address and passed m his uniform. He was told there would be no need for him to report further. He intended to report at Gisborne, but received the summons before he had time to do so.- — Sergt. -Major McLoughlin gave evidence as to defendant being absent from parade. — His Worship - said the letter was rather ''cool." Defendant not only failed to attend parade, but did not attend. Court to offer « any excuse. His request was one of the mildest lie ever heard of. — Senior- Sergt. . Murray said defendant had previously been convicted for failing to render personal service ■ and failing to register.— His Worship said- that sort of- thing ceuld not be permitted. Accused was ' "fined £3 and costs 7s. Noel Francis Lewis admitted not attending. - He said he was working at Motu, and he rang up his employers, asking them to apply to the company sergeant-major for six weeks' leave for him, but they overlooked the matter.— His Worship said he would not convict defendant this time, but he must take care m future to see that the authorities were properly notified. Geo, Griffiths said he did not attend, as he was suffering from a bad ankle. His- horse fell on him that morning, but he thought liis ankle would have been all right by the evening, so he did not apply for leave. He did not notify the sergt-major next day, as it was two or three days before he could leave the house. — In reply to his Worship, Sergt..Ma jor McLoughlin said he would accept defendant's' statement as true. — His Worship dismissed the information, and told defendant to be sure and report m future. . - . . » Alexander Stewart said he was working at. Ngatapa. He expected to be there a couple of days, but did not get back until after the parade date. He

had asked a mate, Dick Oudd. to tell the company sergt. -major. Cudd told him he.had done-so ; consequently he did not think it necessary to speak to the sergt-ma-jor about the matter. — To iSenior-Sergt.' Murray : He did not know till the* day of the parade that the work would not be finished m time. He never thought of using the telephone. It was before the went to Ngatapa that heasked' CiVtd to. give the notice m the event of his not beinpr back m time. — Sergt. -Ma jor 'McLoughlin said defendant 'had been absent from six parades and offered no excuse. — His Worship said defendant had been careless m the matter, and could not be let off. A fine of 10s and costs 7s was imposed. ■*-\ Win. Hall' Wilson had no excuse to offerY He 'did not know why he did not attend.— Sergt. -Major McLoughlin said defendant's attendance was irregular. — Fined £1 and costs Ys.His Worsbip.said these cases, were becoming ' tocTf rgqueiit".""'and if ' there weird.'' any more he would .have to increase -the fines. An hour aiid a half a week was not much, and these young men were, better -at! the drill hall ; than knocking about the street. '