CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1942, Page 4

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS CTo the Editor) The letter in your columns of I February IS on the above question is one that deserves answer, if only for the reason that the "C.O.'s" in general are a very different class of men from what many correspondents • apparently think, as well as for the : fact that the right of libertv of con science has been fullv recognised hv , law in England as well as in New i Zealand, the only two parts of the | British Empire where conscription is in operation. As will be seen from i the statement of the Hon. R. Semple. I work of definite national value £ j being performed by them while I under detention, and at no pay what j ever beyond keep. That has to be | acknowledged as genuine at least As , to the point of sheltering in safetv | which is so often referred to it is ! not yet certain that anvone in ! Auckland may suffer, and' in anv | case all that the C.O. asks is that I he be allowed to trust for his safetv to the same Power that we are all ' asked to intercede for help from in : times of national emergency The camp site was chosen bv the Govern ment and not by him. C.O. is surelv r;j?ht in claiming merit for his i way of life, provided his dealines | with his fellows are in regular : accordance with what he preaches i This latter applies equally to his I critics and brings most of us to the j position where it is better to judee I not lest we, too, be judged. Itfe ! hardly British to keep harping at a i few C.O.'s when, e.g., the How Guard is calling for volunteers and ; cannot get them. | ERNEST H. WRIGHT.