MILITARY TRAINING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 88, 13 December 1913, Page 7

MILITARY TRAINING.

POSTAL OFFICIAL FINED. George Toms was charged at the Court on Friday with tailing to attend a Territorial parade on November 12th, he being a member of the Post and Tolegraph corps. He pleaded guilty. '

Sergeant-Major Bonar said defend ant had been ignoring the Act altoge ther. He came to 'Stratford frOn Wellington and failed to report him self. 4 /Previously the,Post and Tele graph men had complained about lac] of rifles', but rifles had now been sup plied. It was : a hard mattereyen U get excuses from them. The -owes live"jmeii■ in ■ .the corps irad ■■■pj'odircec excuses. " ' The only parade defendant attended 'was oh November'lsth, whei. 'there' was n threat'of'a prbs'eeutioij.' "Mr Butheri'utd,' appearing for" defendant, asked if had. ever beei. a parade^'of -the Post and Telegraph corps in Stratford. Sergeant-Major Bonor"'said the Pos J , Office nieii l had to> report to the adju taut of the infantry regiment am were then attached to the nearest infantry '' corps. ;' '• Tiro , Stwitfo;;d[ men were in formed'that they had been to attached) ,-.) .-.u V (VtfW.tfij .?' ' . -MriPvutherfurd: ; Do i you provide special .drills for them ? ' The Sergeant-Major.Raid the.training provided for these men Mas rifle exercisesj> company drill and a course of musketry. They heed a good' of instruction in musketry and drill, afu'u ketry was an important part of the training of the Post Office men.

Defendant told the Court that he had come to Stratford a little ovei a year ago. Ho had been registered in Wellington, but the company had not been formed, and the. then did n< drills. About three months ago tail officer commanding the Territorials said he would rather not see tire Post and Telegraph men on parade W thej could not do their, drill. The S.M.: Why did you not report; Defendant:.! have no excuso. Tho S.M.: Has the postmaster refused to give you leave? Defendant: I liave never asked him. It would be impossible to relieve ns of our r work. ' ' '' ,•'

The S.M.: You. need not assume the position of the postmaster by saying what can or cannot be done.

Defendant: T understand the postmaster informed the officer commanding'to that effect. '" -The S.M. : Some of you yollrig'fellow's seem to'j know a great deal more about other people's business than you do- about your Own. - Defendant: It is necessary sometimes.

The S.M;: Tt is not necessary in this oaso.

Mr ■ llutherfurd said the position seemed unsatisfactory. There were only a few of'the men, but there wou.d be a good muster if they had their own officers. They wanted to do their own special work.

The S.M.: They need to learn a lot about drill.

The Bergednt-'MftSor Raid tlie Post ami Telegraph officer lived at Xe.v Plymouth, and any complaints could lie sent to him.

The S.M.: If they did their drills they would bo in a better position to make a complaint: A line of 40s, with costs 7s, was imposed. The S.M. : I am not sure that I am making the fine severe enough in view of the fact that he has absented muiself from the whole of the parades.