BREACHES OF THE DEFENCE ACT.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13731, 20 March 1915, Page 2

BREACHES OF THE DEFENCE ACT.

Richard Hetherington pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to register. Sergeant-Major Sharlaml, who appeared for the Defence Department, stated that defendant, who was 22 years of age, had made no attempt to register, nor had he performed any military duties whatever. Defendant stated that he had tried to join the Territorials at Home, but he had been rejected because he iva& too short. He had been in the Dominion two years. Sergeant-Major Sharland explained that all youths were compelled to register, irrespective of height. Defendant had not registered since the information, although several others had. Defendant was convicted and fined £2, with 7s costs. Harry Edward Wells, similarly charged, pleaded guilty. Defendant's brother stated that defendant was medically unfit, having injured his spine when a boy. The case was adjourned for one week to enable defendant to produce a medical certificate. Roy Friend, 14 years of age, pleaded guilty to a similar charge. Defendant, who "had registered .since the information, promised the Magistrate that he would attend drill regularly, and he was told to go. David McKenzie, 24 years, on a similar charge pleaded guilty. Sergeant-Major Sharland stated that defendant told the police constable that he had been too busy to register. Defendant, he remarked, had apparently been dodging the training. Defendant denied that he had been dodging the training. He said that he had never received any word to register. He was convicted and fined £2, with 7-s costs. Frank C. Beattie, charged with evading personal service by failing to report his address to the Defence Department within 14 days after transfer from another place, pleaded guilty, and was convicted and fined £2, with 7s costs. Cyril A. W. Burns, similarly charged, pleaded not guilty. He stated that h had been reported on as medically unfit, and had been informed by an officer of the Defence Department at Westport that he had been exempted from service. The case was adjourned, defendant to be medically examined -by the Department's medical officer. A charge against Oscar Millar of failing to register was adjourned for one week for production of medical certificate.