TERRITORIAL LAWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3655, 16 October 1912, Page 3

TERRITORIAL LAWS.

THE CASE ACAINST E. T. JONES

HIS WORSHIP DISMISSES THE INFORMATION.

Decision was given yesterday in the case against Ernest T. Jones (Mr T. Alston Coleman), charged with failing to attend camp.

Mr Barton, S.M., said: — “From the evidence it appears that defendant, on the 12th day of June, 1912, made application for registration under Section 45 of the said Act; and his name was entered by the Sergeant-Major on the roll, and the defendant was allotted a registration number. It is admitted that the defendant has not taken the oath of alla'giance, as required by Section 11. Mr Coleman, counsel for the defence. contends that until the oath of allegiance is taken that there can be no registration, and consequently defendant could not legally be called, upon to renrler any . service. I a,m of opinion, aftei carefully looking into the Act and regulations made thereunder, that a person cannot be accepted for service, neither can he legally be called upon to attend a training camp or parade till after he has taken the oath of allegiance required by Section 11 of the Act. for the reason that the registration cannot be completed until he has done so. This being sufhcient to entitle the defendant to a dismissal of the information, it is unnecessary for me to consider the other questions raised by counsel for the defence. The information is therefore dismissed. On the application of Sergeant Hutton a further charge against defendant of failing to notify a change of address was withdrawn.