ANTI-MILITARISM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 122, 15 July 1911, Page 6

ANTI-MILITARISM.

FAILING TO REGISTER. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, July 14. Before jllli \V. G. Riddeii, S.M., to-day, William Coley ploadcu guilty to tailing to register as a territorial linoii till Defence Act of T9U9. baox«specter bnconun stated that accused was the ringleader of half-a-dozen lads at iauU, who hud given the department a great deal oi trouble Accused .bad only registered Unit n < ruing. fin Mutualities wisned t I nov.u shut if 1 1tsc youtns did not :egieter. tn- department would ask for the Heaviest j oimltv the court could impose Accused was convicted and ordered to pay court costs, seven snilbags, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Tv. enty-four hours were given to pay the line.

Wellington, July 15. Cornish father of the hoy recemly lined ■ sir aim costs for failing to rcgMior uudoi the Defence Act, in forms the press that the boy has oeou arn-steu and would nave to s a ve t.teuly-one days in gaol. Cornish

said Ms sou was only one out of 13,U'JJ who had not been registered. A la.igtia has boon formed in Brooklyn, and ail the youths iu it were prepared to go to gaol rather than comply with the law. Cornish says ms sou's wink mutes collected the amount of tiie line, but the lad refused to allow it to be paid, and has gone to gaol for tin- sake of his principles. It may ITc mentioned once again that going to gaol does not relieve olic.iicxi-.rs 11 (.in me- necessity of registering, and they can be fined ad Jib till tuey do register. SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. Auckland, July 15. A deputation from the Society of Friends waited on the Hon. * G. Fow!ds and asked that some provisim be made whereby they might be relieved or .dl military duty in connection with the defence scheme. The spiuk-Ms said it. was totally against taeir principles to take pai t m anything coi.ccted with war. They declare tuey would rather leave New Zealand, and would not hesitate to emigrate if the provisions of iho ixlaw were insisted upon. TJmy did not wish their action to be regarded us unpatriotic, but urey positively i Civ.scd to becaiao part of Jio pituitary paraphernalia. It was i\ g’gesced that tnoy might be considered to coviloj'ui to the law by joining some sir. h society as an Ambulance Association Jno Minister expressed sympathy with tir; deputation on the matter of thud conscientious objection. He had thought himself to obtain the mesrfcY.it of a. druse in the Act providing tor i••ou—combatants and tlieir duties, but it was understood the Government's own ambulance corps wonl;l fill all requiromonts under this bond. lie did not know whether military camps would be necessary, and There might ho some modification in umiirnr, but a system of inivevsii military training had been c onsmte 1 n by the country, and it could rot lie disorganised by making any exemptions. If trio “Friends” wore allowed unlimited exemption, their Society would become so rnlargxl by people wishing to escape military duty that the whole position won: I become a farce. He r:creissd to se i what could he lone.