SUGGESTED PENALTIES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 9, 22 October 1941, Page 8

SUGGESTED PENALTIES

MILITARY SERVICE DEFAULTERS (P.A.) f DUNEDIN, Oct. 21. A series of resolutions setting out the Chambers’ attitude to conscientious objectors and military defaulters was adopted by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce to-night and will be forwarded to the Associated Chambers with a request that they be placed before the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple). In the main resolutions followed the usual lines except that .among the penal provisions was one suggesting that defaulters should be deprived for all time of their civil rights, and also of any benefits they might obtain under the social security legislation. There was some difference of opinion on this clause, but an amendment proposing ,a limit of 10 years for the loss of civil rights and the deletion of the reference to social security benefits was defeated, and this clause retained.

The mover of the amendment, Mr H. Miller, said there should be a limit to all penalties. They should 'Sim at a penalty and not at lifetime revenge. Mr J. B. Stewart, who opposed the amendment, said if they agreed to it they, would be condoning the defaulter’s offence.

Mr J. S. Skinner said any man who shirked his responsibilities while his comrades were fighting for the Empire in a life and death struggle should be made to pay the penalty.