WHEN CALLED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 272, 17 November 1941, Page 6

WHEN CALLED

MILITARY DUTIES

SERVICE OBJECTORS PROCEDURE CLARIFIED (No. 1) The conscientious objector has been prominent in the public eye ever since Armed Forces Appeal Boards, which hear their objections to military service, were instituted. It is only in recent months, however, that he has become an "acute problem" to the military authorities. To eliminate general confusion in respect to the subject this article, and one to follow it, are written to direct attention to what action can be taken in respect to the conscientious objector when he is called upon to perform military service and to clarify a position that has become obscure owing to amendments made from time to time to the National Service Emergency Regulations.

All appeals by conscientious objectors against military service are referred in the first place by the Area Manpower Committee of the district concerned to the Director of National Service, Wellington, for reference to the Armed Forces Appeal Board that deals with the district from which the reservist is called up. Under the original regulations members of the Society of Friends (or Quakers) and members of the Christadelphian sect were recognised as being connected with religious bodies having as a tenet of their doctrine that warfare in amy circumstances was wrong. If they could prove genuine membership to such a body preceding the war the board had the right to allow an appeal lodged by a member of either organisation, provided there was sufficient evidence to support thej reservist's statements.

The fact that the two religious I bodies were specifically mentioned in j the regulations did not, however, necessarily exclude appeals by other reservists adhering to some other faith. In May last the regulations were amended and new rules brought into operation concerning the/letermination of appeals lodged by reservists on conscientious grounds. New Regulations These in effect provide that if the Armed Forces Appeal Board is satisfied that an appellant holds a genuine belief that it is wrong to engage in warfare in any circumstances the appeal must be allowed. There is no reference in these regulations to membership of any specific religious body as was the case originally. In the event of an appeal being dismissed unconditionally steps are taken at once to have the reservist medically examined and dealt with in the ordinary way, provided he has not previously been so examined. If an appeal is dismissed subject to a condition that the reservist shall be employed only in non-combatant duties, it is the duty of the Army Board to see that such reservist while serving with the Armed Forces, shall perform only non-combatant duties of such nature as the Minister of Defence from time to time directs.

The definition of non-combatant service has only lately been decided upon. In respect to duties beyond New Zealand men will be drafted to service with the Medical Corps and Dental Corps. In the case of service within New Zealand non-combatant duty will include service with both corps already mentioned or men may temporarily be placed on the staff to perform duties not involving the carrying or use of arms. Clerical or fatigue duties would obviously be the class of work selected. Up to Saturday practically the only service of a non-combatant nature that objectors had been called to perform was duties with the Medical Corps, but now that the policy in respect to non-combatant service duties has been definitely defined, men who have been dealt with by Armed Forces Appeal Boards will be called up throughout the Dominion. A 1 f. ta / 1 _, was made in Auckland on Saturday when 23 men who had been ordered non-combatant services were instructed to report for dispatch to Trentham camp to join the Expeditionary Force Medical Corps. Many of the men whose appeals were dismissed subject to the condition that they should be employed only in non-combatant duties in the Armed Forces have since their appeals were heard continued their civil employment, but now the various military areas will "round up" these reservists to ascertain whether military examination has alreadv been undergone and to ascertain whether the men will, in fact actually serve, and in what capacity!

1 Court Prosecutions A reservist who has had his case unconditionally dismissed is called up by the army. If he fails to respond to the notification he is agam notified by registered letter ar \, if he P ersi sts in his attitude he is raw?to P °Tf serve by notice in the Gazette. If the reservist reports at the time and place mentioned in the Gazette notice an escort is detailed to to camp, but the man is ™'£ a . ced under arrest unless his conduct warrants such action.

In the event, however, of his re fusin g a lawful order he may be terv g l!w Wit^f the offence under miliSZ. y. J f a reservist who has been ordered to report to a depot to receive clothing and equipment refuses to accept the issue he is placed under arrest. The trial of these offenders by court-martial has been suspended in the meantime the policy adopted being to hand the men o\er to the civil courts for ewriTnf punishment in the their being found guiltv of The °m?Hf CeS char s ed against them. [ y authorities, generally tioKnh; ,° k upon the conscienresYstpr ai and the passive resister as camp nuisances. Thev th ?? to hand them over to selves V frn C £ UrtS and thus frec th*m»eives from numerous court-mai-tiii proceedings which entail a SeTt deal of time when officers are needed for more important duties iuch as the training of troops. 6