THE MEN WHO OBJECT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 22, 20 October 1917, Page 10

THE MEN WHO OBJECT

AND GO TO GAOL. The following question was addressed to the Minister of Defence by Mr. lv. A. Wright in the House yesterday HD Whether he will inform the House of the exact nature of the offences of which eleven soldiers at Trentham were iound guilty? (2) Where will the soldiers in question be imprisoned? Sir James Allen (Minister of .•jelenae) replied:—(l) I presume the honourable member refers to the cases of eleven soldiers at Trentham whoso sentences were promulgated on October i. The soldier in each ease was found guilty of disobeyin" n lawful command given by his superior officer. The soldiers referred to ars all objectors—not necessarily conscientious—to military service, and they rofusi-d to obey an order to accept and don the prescribed -uniform. They were tried by court-martial, and in each case we.e found guilty, nnd sentenced to ele/fn months' imprisonment with hard laboii". (21 The soldiers in question will be imprisoned in the country prisons for the time being, and will be employed on tree-planting, construction of roads, etc. Some however, nre temnorarily accommodated at Point Halswell Prison pending arrangements for their, removal. They wilt be kept apart from tlm other prisoners at Point Halswell. both at exercise and at labour. Proposals are now being formulated for the establishment of a separate prison for all military offenders, so that these may be kent entirely apart from the ordinary criminal enss.