DEFAULTERS ARE FINED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22486, 22 January 1943, Page 4

DEFAULTERS ARE FINED

Did Not Attend Home Guard Parades Liability Of Youths Who Enrol Defaulters from Home Guard parades were dealt with by Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Timaru Magistrate's Court yesterday, when fines of £lO were imposed on three members of the First Division of the Home Guard, who had not given the service required by the regulations. A youth was also fined, and the liability of boys between the ages of 16 and 18 to attend parades, once they had enrolled, was emphasised. Senior-Sergeant S. King prosecuted, and evidence of the liability of the offenders to attend parades was given by Mr G. J. Walker, a commissioned officer and acting-adjutant in the Home Guard. “I volunteered for the First Echelon but was turned down. I was called up recently and am ready to go to camp. I don’t see why it is necessary for me to attend Home Guard parades,” Abiatha William Solomon told the Magistrate when he was charged with failing to perform service in the Home Guard in September, October, November and December, 1942.

Senior-Sergeant King said that defendant had not attended any parades and had made no reply to warnings sent to him. “You have set yourself up against the regulations,” the Magistrate told Solomon. “The fact that you enlisted at the beginning does not excuse you from parades.” Defendant was fined £lO and costs 10/-, the fine to be paid in weekly

instalments of £l. “Told Nothing’’ “I have been told nothing about being in the Home Guard.” said Alexander Galbraith, who was similarly charged. “I was in the Territorials for 12 months and all I have is an indication in my pay-book that I am on leave without pay. I have been out for six months and will be called up again next week.”

An enrolment form for Home Guard service signed by the defendant on August 28, 1942, was produced in Court. Tire Senior-Sergeant said that defendant had performed 10 hours' service in September but had not attended In October, November or December. He had been notified by registered letters, but had not replied.

"You have been enrolled in the Home Guard and should have attended parades,” said the Magistrate in imposing a fine of £lO with costs 10/-. James Henry Allen, who did not appear, had performed no service in October, eight hours in November and none in December, said Senior-Ser-geant King. Defendant was fined £lO with 10/- costs. Parent’s Misapprehension Norman Arthur Williams, a member of the Second Division (between the ages of 16 and 18 years) failed to render the required service in September, October, November and December. The defendant’s mather, who appeared, said that her son was apprenticed to a firm which was short-staffed. She was under the impression that service was not compulsory for youths between the ages of 16 and 18. Her son had been in the Home Guard with elderly men and it was not attractive. If he had been with youths of his own age there would have been better results. He had attended some parades but he thought that his name had been missed. As she thought service by her son was not compulsory she had told him not to go any more but to wait until he was 18.

Senior-Sergeant King said that the regulations affecting the Second Division set out that those “who were desirous of becoming members of the Home Guard should make application for enrolment” and this had been done by the defendant. When a person had enlisted and had taken the oath, he was subject to the regulations. The hours of service for the Second Division were the same as for the First Division, said Mr Walker. The youths were not compelled to join but immediately they did, they were subject to the rules and regulations. Warnings had been sent to the defendant and he had not attended any parades. George Edward Sumpter, a company sergeant-major in the Home Guard, produced a roll book. He said that the defendant’s name had been called at 17 parades and he had been absent from them all. There was no chance of his having been missed as the sergeants always asked after the roll call if there were any men on parade whose names had not been called. “It was unwise to tell him there was no need to attend parades,” the Magistrate told the mother. “You should have gone to the authorities and ascertained the position.” Defendant was fined £2 with costs 10/-, being allowed one month in which to pay.

A similar charge against Roy Milne (for whom Mr C. W. Webber appeared) was adjourned sine die, the Police raising no objections.

The defendant had enrolled when he was 16, and had attended parades, said Mr Webber. He had applied for entry to the Navy, in which his brother was serving and would be accepted for service shortly. Since he had received the summons he had attended parades and he was anxious and willing to make up the shortage in parade hours.