A Passive Resister

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLV, Issue 6135, 7 February 1914, Page 1

A Passive Resister

| OBJECTS TO JUUTAEY SERVICE Stanley Caird, a passive resister, was before the Magistrate's Court at Wyndham last week, charged with tailing to render personal service ymUer the defence Act. Defendant had come prepared with a long string of written objections ol aa inconsequential nature. It was quite evident that he was not seized with the gravity of the statements' that he made, they appeared to be mere repetition, L'or bumpttious con-' ci'it and self-assurance tho attitude assumed would be hard to equal. Much ' of what he said svas in tin.' grossest ceuse insulting to the ollicers present m Court and an affront to every oat «■ ho differed from his peculiar id«as. , lie claimed to bo a Humanist and that he was exempt by distance. lie laboured the point that, in his opinion war was unnecessary ; though men with minds saturated with murder a nd pillage " might think otkerUe could not consider that a national quarrel was involved. " Trie oflieers o>er us have been found guilty of the worst crimes, and they are supposed to have supreme power over us," he declared. To one ol his statements Mr Cruiukshank, S.M., quietly remarked : " This is beside the question. Did you learn anything at Tairoa Heads '!" Caird said, No ; he had not. Lie had there wasted six weeks oi valuable lime, it had certainly done the State uu good. He relleeted on some oi the ollicers at the Heads. Ho considered thai the Department were " shirking " m not prosecuting everyone who ictusi'd- militarv service. equivalent service and seemed momentarily to consent. Lieutenant l'urdie if Caird would cui gorse on the rille range ? Caird: iso; that would be under military service. Tho Magistrate; Will you go if 1 tell you '/ Caird : 1 cannot give my word to do anytihing a military man would tell me. The Magistrate: lou wan't go in the ambulance ' Caird : iSo ;'nothing to destroy men's lives. The Magistrate : But that is to save men's lives. Caird; rvo; it is to patch men up again to tight. Tho Magistrate ; "I will consider your case." Lieutenant L'urdie pointed out that there was no distance limit in tho (Act, it- was only one oi the Department's regulations, it was " designed for our good boys." But they found other Doys boasting and defying the law. Caird appealed to Constable Bogue to state the distance from Wyndhaih to where defendant was employed. Constable Bogue named seven to eight miles as his estimate. Caird : 1 am prepared to swear it is eight miles. The Court remarked that he would have to attend six daylight parades. Caird ; Does my i detention at Taiaroa Heads not count '! The Magistrate ; You said you learnI ed nothing at Taiaroa Heads. Caird (to Lioutenant. l'urdie) : Either you or the «ther man argued falsely btforc. ' Lieut. l'urdie ; Was it 1 ? Caird ; Possibly, There was another information which it was proposed to adjourn for a month. Caird said it would not be convenient for him to come down again. Lieut. Purdie said that this,would be withdrawn. The case was adjourned.