THE OBJECTORS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9516, 1 February 1919, Page 3

THE OBJECTORS

DEMAND FOR RELEASE

WELLINGTON, January 30. A demand for the release of conscientious objectors now serving sentences of imprisonment for offences under the Military Service Act was made by a delegation from the Labour 'Conference now sitting in Wellington, which waited on Sir James. Allen to-day.

Mr'P. Fraser^ M.P., in introducing the deputation, said it represented GO,OOO workers. Mr J. lloberte said that to a largo extent the objects of the' Peace Conference were to forgive and forget, and he hoped the Government of New Zealand would adopt the same, policy. Men could not any longer be kept in in;aol out of mere vindictiveness. Gaol was no place for honourable men, and they should be let out. In England the movement to let out the conscientious objectors had almost universal support. He did hot believe that 20 per cent, of the people of this, country wanted to keep these men in gaol, any longer. The people wanted an 'amnesty for these defaulters.

Mr W. It. Parry urged that punishment of these men twice for one offence was a disgrace to democracy, Miners felt very strongly about the release of these men. '

Mr P. Eraser said the views expressed by the deputation were those held practically unanimously by-organi-sed Labour. At a time like the present, when the country was faced with the greatest problem in its history, that of repatriation, it was essential to have a united people if the men returaiing were to b_e settled on the liand and put into industries without friction. This unity could be achieved if these men were released.

Sir James Allen said he wished to disabuse their minds altogether of the idea that he was vindictive, ' or that the Government was. Mr Parry had said there were old sores to be healed. It was quite true. Some there were which could never be healed. There were some 16,000 or 17,000 of New Zealand's sons lying buried on foreign soil. His own son was lying in a' grave in Gallipoli. The Government had had to call upon married men with two children, very much against his wish, and the position had been reached when the call would have had to be made on. men with three children. Did they think that to do this was a,ny pleasure to;*him or the Government? He could have saved a good many of these married men from going to the front if other men had done what the Government believed, and what he believed, to be their duty, and gone to defend their country. It had been said they were punishing twice for-the same offence. This was not true. A man was punished for one offence. If after he was allowed out of gaol lie committed the offence again he wSS punished again. Men had been committed as a deterrent against men breaking the law in future.. He was prepared to give a very wide interpretation to. the ' term "religious objector." He would 1 do what he could for those who were honest objectors immediately.