DEFAULTING TERRITORIALS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144667, 29 April 1915, Page 7

DEFAULTING TERRITORIALS.

A LARGE BATCH IN COURT. Numerous Territorials appeared in the Police Court this morning charged with failing to render persona! service under the Defence Act. “Tho attendance at parades here is not. what you would expect, your Worship,” said the prosecuting officer, Sorgt.-Major Hesp. “Tho men have not got any uniforms—these have been handed in for the members of the expeditionary forces—but even so, some of tho Territorials have not even attended one. single parade.” He expressed the opinion that such bchaviotir. at a time like this when the Empire was involved in a life and death struggle, should meet with severe punishment. It line! openly been stated by the men that it paid them to miss t.hc parades. This lamentable spirit ho had only noticed in and around New Plymouth. this Worship said there was certainly no exenso for most of the men. Ho could not understand their failing to attend drill when there was nothing to prevent them being present. “There seems,” he said, “to bo some difficulty in waking these men up to a realisation of their duty.” F. B. Matson, for whom Mr, A. H. Johnsione appeared, entered a plea of guilty, but it was explained that the defendant was a motor-ear driver and that the very nature of his occupation made it almost impossible for him to 'attend parados. He was applying for exemption "and this would come, in in due course.

Sorgt.-Major Hesp said the man was very Into in bringing forward excuses. ■He had attended no parades during the year, but was present at the annual camp.

His Worship said it would he almost Impossible for a motor-car driver to attend to anything but his work, so irregular were his hours. As, however, he had attended no parades at all, he would impose a lino of 10s without costs, T. B. Mathcson, another motor-car drii’er. for whom .Mr, A. H. Johnstone also appeared, was lined 5s without costs.

Cecil Johnstone, for whom Mr. R. H. Quillian\ appeared, pleaded guilty; it was stated in extenuation that the lapse was due; not to any slackness, but to the fact that he could not leave tho business of which bo was now in sole charge.

Sergt.-Major Hesp pointed out that there were five previous convictions.

His Worship remarked on this, and said that during the last few months there might have been, under the cireumstanees. some Jit.tie excuse. He would indict u lino of 11 and costs 7s. Reginald -l. lirokenshiro. lor whom Mr. A. it. Sumdish appeared, pleaded guilty and was connoted and titled os amt costs 7s Jf'rod Hawke. taxi-driver, lor whom .Mr, A. li. Standish appeared, pleaded guilty and was convicted and fined 10s and costs 7s.

Stanley Jleniuhiimp and Arthur J. Hawkins wore each convicted and lined 10s and costs 7s.

The following second offenders were convicted ami lined 10s and costs 7s: —(.'has. N. (Vann. Reginald Huia Gordgo. and Harold Gnnn.

The following appeared and were ■inch convicted and lined As and costs 7s;—Wilfred George Blanchett. Norman Hcaly, David James. George Knight, and Harry West.

’Hu* following did not appear and were each lined os and coals 7sEdgar Oonoli, Ernest Kilimt. Albert Victor (.lullson, Eliot Miller King. Hn.ss’cll ■Matthews. Alfred Wm. .Morey, liaymoml G. Ukoy, l.auric I’oppcivli, \V. I). Uoebuek. ami .Vornian G. White.

iTis Worship said he hoped the men would not think they ivould ho so light!.v treated on a second occasion. Tho fines he had imposed that morning tvoro made lenient in the hope that tile men would, in future, attend the parades regularly. If they did not, tho next fine would bo a much, more substantial one.