THE TERRITORIALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 66, 23 July 1913, Page 7

THE TERRITORIALS.

HEAVY PENALTIES

In the Magistrate’s Court at Hawera on Monday (says the Star), before Mr Kenrick, S.M., Frederick Greaves was charged with having failed to render personal service by not having attended the Oringi encampment on May 5 or May 18* The defendant admitted that he had not attended the camp, and said he had only received 12 hours’ notice to do so.

Sergeant-Major Dunham gave evidence that the defendant had been posted with the usual notice, while the dates of the encampments had been advertised in the local papers, and notified by circulars posted up in the defence office, post office, and police station. The defendant had been exempted from parades up to March 31, but was informed that he would be required to attend the encampment.

Defendant said he could not attend the first encampment because of th shortness of the notice, and did not attend the second one for the reason that he was not well enough. He produced a medical certificate. Captain Stevens said that the defendant should have produced the certificate to tiie defence authorities.

The Sergeant-Major said this war the first time he had heard of the certificate.

The Magistrate stated that the defendant'had been treated liberally by the department, and he (the Magistrate) could not let him off the whole year’s drill and not go into camp, while others were doing their duty. Defendant would be fined £5; in default, 21 days’ 1 military custody, and be would be allowed 14 days in which to pay.

Garfield Ogle and Musgrave Ogle, through their counsel, .Mr P. O’Dea, applied for a certificate of exemption from military duty. He put Mr J. Ogle, the father of the two boys, into the box, who said he had conscientious objections to military service. He did not believe in a system which, trained people to murder people. The Magistrate pointed out to th< witness that under the Act people were not asked to commit murder, but wore simply asked to learn hov to use arms so that they could fighi in enemy if they came to attack thii country. “Are you a believer in la man defending? his own' country and hir life!'” asked his Worship. , The Witness I believe in obtaining peace without fighting.) And I believe this can be dope .by (arbitration.- i;

The Magistrate; “If you can do that kll; the world will btGlvith youVi Abler men than • you trying tc solve this question.” His Worship further pointed out that all the powerr endeavoured to settle matters without fighting. As it was, England had kept at peace with the other Powers for many years, but as they could not always have it, her citizens must be trained 6nd ready for any emergency.

The witness said that if all other peaceable means failed he would bo prepared to defences jqs. couttfcr j] K Hi believed in the volunteers, but not in compulsory service. He admitted-he would not see a wounded man suffer and would give hijn . assistance.: ' Tl.e Magistrate explained to- -the .witness that the object of the present systme was to see that all became trained men. At present tho citizen army was not calld upon to fight, and could, not be asked to go outside of their own country. Mr O’Dea: What about Mr Allen’s expeditionary force? Tho Magistrate pointed out that that force, as explained by Mr Allen, would be purely a volunteer force, just the same as those who volunteered for service in the Boer war. He was quite satisfied that Mr Ogle’s objection was to the system, and he advised him to vote for men who would go to Parliament asking for its repeal. His Worship said he was further satisfied .that the defendants Gar field and Musgrave Ogle, had no real conscientious religious objections, but only objections to compulsory service. He would therefore have to decline tc grant cortificares of exemption. The Magistrate dealing with the cas es for failure to render personal service, heard recently, said the young fellows had refused to do any service at all, even in tho medical corps. IL asked if the defendant Garfield Ogb was prepared to carry out any dutie* in such a corps, to which he had boon posted. Mr O’Dea : No sir; he says he is not.

The Magistrate said he was sorry to hear this. The defendant would be fined £5; in default, 28 days’ military detention. In addition, defendant, who was over 21 years of age, would be deprived of his civil rights for five years. Defendants views were not

quite the same as those of his father ; he (defendant) would not do any thing at all.

| Mr O’Dea ; To rny mind this is th' hardest, part of your judgment. Sup par;; every objector were treated in the

same way they would not bo in a post tion to vote on questions which they were concerned in.- He asked whether his Worship would not reconsider thh part of the judgment. The Magistrate replied that Ik could not do so. With regard to the defendant Musgrave Ogle, he did not iintend to deprive him of his civil 'rights, but bo would be fined £5; in .default 21 days’ military detention. ] Mr O’Dea said the fines would be paid. I