MILITARY SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 157, 5 July 1929, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE.

POSITION OF OBJECTING STUDENTS,

(To tlic Editor.)

May I correct certain misconceptions regarding the attitude of conscientious objectors- towards non-military service? For these I recognise the Press are not rcsponsible, as they have been misled hv certain churchmen stating as actual facts what were merely their private opinions, arrived at without a full knowledge of the situation. 80 far from the present conscientious objectors havin<r ever refused to do alternative work, they have several times publicly expressed will»ig lless to render non-military service. What thev have turned down have been suggestions that they be set unusual tasks while still remainingv within the military system. The pacifist's position is this: He believes that only in doin«' his duty to God, i.e., to humanity as a whole" present and future, can he rightly perform all particular duties to neighbours and State. Having thus entered the "Kingdom of God," it is one of his tasks positively to work for social justice and goodwill among all men, and negatively to refuse to assist personally any organisation whose methods are a denial of brotherhood and goodwill. Hence his objection to being a member of a military force; for him that would be national disservice. His very refusal to put himself at military disposal he considers to be a service to his country's real interests, since he has diminished the risk of war to that extent. Thus it is clear that he is ready for all forms of national service, but cannot do them as a member of a military organisation. For it is to being a member of a military organisation that the pacifist objects, not to the actual drilling as such. If the learning of drill and rifle movements were the only result of the military training system it would be equally impotent for good or'ill, as all trainees will testify. It is the psychological effects of the existence of a military organisation which are evil —abroad suspicion and fear of our intentions; here, a belief that war is some time inevitable. No consistent worker for peace can therefore consent to take part in anjj activity whatever as a member of the > military organisation, for he would thereby be assisting the spread of these attitudes. But first sever his membership, i.e., "exempt" him from such "service," and he is free for national service. This should make plain that the pacifist is moved by the opposite of anti-social motives when he refuses all work whatever as a member of the Defence forces. The British and American peoples are evidently ahead of New Zealanders in realising this fact, since they have just elected to the control of the national policies two Christian pacifists, MacDonahl and Hoover. A. M. RICHARDS.