DEFAULTERS SENT TO CAMP

Southland Times, Issue 24593, 15 November 1941, Page 6

DEFAULTERS SENT TO CAMP

FIRST CASES AT AUCKLAND (P.A.) AUCKLAND, November 14. The first committals to a detention camp of men convicted of failing to report for military service were made in the Magistrate’s Court, when six cases were heard by two Magistrates, Mr J. H. Luxford and Mr F. H. Levien. The lines on which the Bench has decided to deal with defaulters were stated by Mr Luxford. “When the Court finds that a person is a straightout slacker he will go to prison,” said Mr Luxford. “If he is betwixt and between he will go to prison for a shorter term and then be sent to a defaulters’ camp. If he is just a poor, misguided person with an inflexible idea he will be sent straight to a defaulters’ camp.” The Magistrate’s remarks were made to Allan Nixon, a university student, who pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to report for medical examination, stating that he was a conscientious objector. Mr Luxford said the accused came into the third category laid down by the Bench and sent him to a defaulters’ camp. Asked by the accused how long the term would be, the Magistrate said it wor’d apply for the duration of the war.