THE RECENT COURT-MARTIAL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16161, 15 March 1918, Page 6

THE RECENT COURT-MARTIAL.

.SENTENCES CRITICISED. Yesterday there was held at Wools* ton an election to iill tho vacancy on the local . Council, caused by tho death of Cr. W. J. Trerise. Apparently another vacancy has been caused by tho removal of (Jr. J. Roberts, who was one of three conscientious objectors sentenced at the recent court-martial for failing to obey military orders. Mr Roberts was sentenced to eighteeu iUU'u luuuui', \wiilo uliKu r»t*iC :<cuu.'jKeu io jthiO *auutiis uiiu two car j i os-]) . -i lie t... 0 referred to by Cr. U. li. lejiiurts at Jast uigut'S lliucliug or tue ttooision uorougn %_ouncn. -iio said mat tiny were an \eiy aori v tuat c-r. Kooervs .itiu uau iu so.er jus connexion mm tnu council owing to tue attituuo no nau taKen m>. no added, "Ao liiatiur wnat our opinions iu regaru io jus position, i, ior one, cannot Jieip out uuiuire me spiouuiu courage lie nas suowu oy ooe.> uig tno dictates of Jus conscjo.iv e at miui a cost, -vny man who is pivpaiod to sutler to sucu an extent for ».is ideas must be a man ot stoning qualities. lie has shown to us during his eleven months on tins Couucil taut in., is a man of great capabilities and sound commonsense. X think that the sentence passed upon him is an unduly harsh one, especially when we take into consideration a ease identically with his, j in which a sentence of only nine f; months was imposed. Cr. .Roberts, for tho same offence, at the same time, rcceivod Id months, and owing to the injustice of this, 1 would like to move:—'That this Council emphatically protest against the unjust sentences passed on conscientious objectors at the recent court-martial held in Christchurch, believing that if nine months' imprisonment is a just punishment in one caso, it is equally just in othor cases of a similar description.'" Cr. D. Mcßao seconded the motion pro forma.

Cr. J. G. Hobson expressed the opinion that it was outside tho province of tho Council to deal with the mattor. Cr. T. Champ expressed a similai opinion. Cr. L. Hart said that lie would support the motion. Mayor said that lie held strongly that the matter was outside tho province of tho Council. No one felt ™ or ® f° r Cr. Roberts than himself, but he (Cr. Roberts) had disobeyed ' tho laws of the country, and had suffered the consoquence. He would like the mat-or at least left over until he had iTi.* ' 016 to car °f u l'.v consider it. This course was adopted.