DEFENCE DEFAULTERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3406, 9 August 1913, Page 2

DEFENCE DEFAULTERS.

A QUESTION OF EXEMPTION. A number of cases brought under tlic Defence Act were heard before Mr if. S. Florance, S.M., yesterday. Albert Candy, for whom Mr Dorrington appeared, said he was guilty to having failed to attend the Oringi training camp. His counsel said that had attended the Makaraka e-amp, commanding stating his inability to attend the Oringi camp. Defendant had attendeu the Makaraka camp, thinking it was sufficient. Senior Sergeant Hutton said that defendant had attended tire Makaraka camp two days late, and had signed a statement iir which lie said lie would attend a future camp. Defendant was lined J.Os and costs (7s). A charge againsl Edward Percy Carnachan of failing to render pivsonal service as required by the Defence .Ad. was withdrawn so that the date could be amended. A charge against Leonard Thomas Wilson was withdrawn, it being stated that defendant had obtained four months’ leave of absence from the Wellington authorities. He had written to the local oflieer. stating that be did not wish to get out of serving in the defence forces.

Agamo Thompson (Air L. T. Burin rd) was charged with failing to render personal service, and counsel asked that tiie case should be allowed _to stand over, as he intended applying for defendant’s exemption under the new regulations. Air Barnard said that under the Act of 1912 the Governor had power to make a regulation exempting from service, and in the Gazette of May 8 of this year the following additional regulation appeared: ‘‘Paragraph 427 a : A member of the military forces desirous of obtaining exemption from personal service on the grounds that undue hardship is caused by the requirements of such service (section 32 in Defence Amendment Act, 1912) will first give 11 days’ notice to the officer commanding his unit, and at the expiration of that period the applicant will make written application to the nearest Magistrate’s Court.. The officer commanding the unit will inquire into each case, and within 14 days will notify the clerk of the Magistrate’s Court whether he recommends or intends to oppose the application.” The position in this case, counsel said, was that defendant was employed, by Air Newton, a carter, being obliged to work for bis own living. He only came to town for a day once in two or three weeks, and it was quite impossible for him to fit in the necessary amount of) service. Counsel had evidence to show that the case was a bona fide one. He asked that the case stand over for throe weeks, so that their application could be considered by the authorities. . . Air T. A. Coleman, for the Defence Department, offered no objection to the adjournment, stating that if the application was a bona lido one, and came within the regulation, then no doubt the Department would raise no objection. , , The case was adjourned till August--28.