DISMISS THEM?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 137, 12 June 1941, Page 12

DISMISS THEM?

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

WHO REFUSE ALL SERVICE

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A recommendation by the Tramways Committee that the council take into consideration the question of dismissing conscientious objectors to military service who refused to do any form of service, including attending the wounded and ambulance work, was approved without discussion by the Wellington City Council to-night. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, said the matter had arisen from a particular case which was before the Tramways Committee of an employee, a conscientious objector who refused to do any type of service. The feeling of the committee was that it should not, having due regard to true conscientious objectors, keep in the council's employ, at the public expense, an objector who would do nothing for the public. The particular case had been before the Appeal Board. Mr. Hislop added, but there was no decision yet However, a question of policy arose from it. From his experience of true conscientious objectors in the last war, they were usually prepared to help in some way. An example was the work of members of the Society of Friends with the sick and wounded.

On the other hand, there were those objectors who would do nothing but live by the sacrifice of others. The question was whether they should continue to be employed at the public expense.