HUNGER STRIKER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 84, 10 April 1945, Page 2

HUNGER STRIKER

MOTHER'S STATEMENT BACKGROUND INFLUENCES Factors influencing the attitude of Harold Wheeler McAuley (40), one of the military defaulters who went on a hunger strike in Mount Eden gaol in February, were the subject of a statement this morning by his mother, Mrs. M. S. McAuley, Oamaru, who, for the past fortnight, has been in Auckland for the purpose of visiting her son. "My son has been deeply, influenced by the circumstances of his elder brother'-s life," said Mrs. McAuley. "This boy was shell-shocked and gassed while serving at the front during the last war. He was admitted to a sanatorium in Queensland and later to the Cashmere Hills sanatorium, Christchurch. He returned to Oamaru and was harvesting until his lung caused him trouble. He spent several more months in hospital following this. In fact, he has been in and out of hospital ever since returning from the war. He is the father of' six small children. About four years ago he was shot in the thigh when a man with a rifle entered a meeting of Jehovah Witnesses in Oamaru, his leg having to be amputated at the hip. "This boy's history and that of his elder brother, who was killed on Gallipoli, have undoubtedly influenced my son now in Mount Eden," said Mrs. McAuley. "My intention is to make it clear that there are good reasons in Harold's background for the stand he has taken. I have seen him twice since coming to Auckland. He has been urged to return to the defaulters' camp, but he has not yet decided what his future actions will be." After being in hospital for three weeks as a result of the hunger strike, McAuley was returned to the prison. His military classification is grade three.