RELEASE OPPOSED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 162, 11 July 1945, Page 6

RELEASE OPPOSED

MILITARY DEFAULTERS

NEW REGULATIONS CRITICISED

O.C. PALMERSTON N., this day. Contending that a previous motion was not strong enough, a large public meeting in the Opera House last night passed a resolution objecting most strongly to the release of military defaulters at this late stage of the war, being of the opinion that no defaulter should be released until all servicemen had been returned and had had sufficient time to rehabilitate themselves. „ . The Mayor, Mr. A. E. Mansford, who presided, sard: "To call these men conscientious objectors is arrant nonsense; they are military defaulters. (Applause). They have defied the law of this country and deserve the sentence imposed upon them. As Mayor I have piesided at every public fareweii t.< cur men going overseas. At these functions we have applauded their action for the sacrifices they were making on our behalf.

Promises to Servicemen "We promised them we would watch over their interests while they were away. Those boys have more than played their part. (Applause). Thousands have given their lives, thousands will be maimed for life and many went straight from school, thereby losing their chance of securing employment and the benefit of legislation protecting their jobs. I feel we will be letting 'Hose boys down and betraying our trust, as well as breaking the promise we made to them, if these military defaulters, these lawbreakers, are released before all members of our fighting services have a chance to return to this country and rehabilitate themselves.

"I have no patience with the person who wastes time in sloppy sentiment on behalf of cowards of this sort. Does not the unseemly action of the Government show a surprising measure of sympathy for the cause of military defaulter and cynical disregard for the expressed opinion of Parliament?" asked Mr. Mansford. "On reading these regulations one asks: What has a defaulter's behaviour in camp to do with his appeal for release on conscientious grounds? Under the original regulations some corroboration of an appellant's statements was required. In these amended regulations the authority has merely to believe that an appellant has a 'conscientious objection to war.'

"Political Sop to Shirker" "The Government knew fvll well that if it had introduced this legislation before, there would have been such a hue and cry throughout the country that it would not have dared go on with it," said Mr. Mansford. "This latest piece of legislation is nothing more than political sop to the shirker and defaulter. The unseemly haste with which it was rushed through by regulation displays a flagrant disregard and contempt for the opinions of the people of this country. I hope they will .show their disapproval of this sort of thing in no uncertain manner." Other speakers included ex-service-men of the last and present wars. _ A representative of the R.S.A., who supported the Mayor, .was frequently interrupted by loud applause. When a motion was submitted, "That the meeting wholeheartedly supports the protests made to the Government regarding preferential treatment being given to military defaulters," there were cries of "Not strong enough." Thereupon the resolution already stated was carried.