BOYS RESIST AT AUCKLAND.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13315, 16 January 1912, Page 4

BOYS RESIST AT AUCKLAND.

(Special to "The Colonist.")

Christchurch, Jan. 15,

Commenting on the statement telegraphed from Wellington that the Defence Department ' knew of only 53 lads who had failed to comply with the registration 'clauses of the. Defence Act, Mr. L. P. Christie, secretary of the New Zealand Peace Council told a "Press" reporter that his organisation know of more, than a hundred in Cbristchureh alone, and other branches had returned large tallies of lads who had failed to obey the law. If a personal letter from Auckland, received, here by Mr. Lewis P. Christie, the secretary of the National Pence Council, is any authority the enforcement •of the Dei'enop. Act in that city.is not proving at all a simple matter. He showed a ''Press" reporter a circular signed by twelve names setting out that the signatories had refused to register, or to submit themselves to training, alleging tlif usual reasons in support of their action. The circular urged other ladf to follow their example. These twelve brvrs posted themselves at the door.' of the Auckland Drill Hall on th» night of Monday last, and buttonhol ed each lad as he was about to go in As a. consequence, the letter stated not one boy attended parade, and several joined the agitators. The same tactics have been followed each night since, though not -always with so unsatisfactory n result. Mr Christie war careful to explain that the National Peace Council hnd nothing to do with the matter, which had been done purely by the boys themselves.

In all eases in which application v.ms niacV to the authorities of th<Council for advice, tho lads wore benig told to submit themselves to tho l.v.v nroviderl that their consciences would allow it.