THE TERRITORIALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 47, 13 July 1912, Page 8

THE TERRITORIALS.

Addressing a youth who was charged at Stratford with refusing to take the oath under the Defence Act, the Magistrate. Mr. Kenrick, said:—"You are a ravanak" boy, and you must 'bear this in mind. Your grandfather and your father have probably fought in this country, and made it fit for you to live in. They had to go away from their no lies to defend their country, and their crops were rumul. They lost these in defending the'r homes. I dare say you are a hard-working young fellow, -but you must be prepared to put up with a little inconvenience. You have the common fault that, you don't prepare for the future. You should make some arrangements beforehand, and get somebody to take your place, so that when the notice does come von can do your duty." His Worship lidded that he hoped that something in the nature of Territorial clubs would be formed. They would serve for an interchange of ideas, and at the same time it should be possible for the young men to mutually assist in lessening the inconvenience to which the parades and cam]) would put them. If each assisted the other there would be no inconvenience, for several camps were held. Turning to another aspect of the case, His Worship said that New Zealand was regarded by other countries as "a nice little plum," and they would sooner or later make a bid for it. With forty thousand trained troops, and assistance from England, the country could be defended, "I know," he said, "that you are quite prepared to fight when the time comes, but then it is too late. Of what use is a man who does not know the butt end of a gun from the muzzle? You may have seen a play called 'The Englishman's Home.' There was not much good in their attempting to fight. You must be prepared to defend your country. It is little to ask—only that you be prepared. The volunteers did this without being forced, but it was discovered that one half were leaving the other half to do the work."