MILITARY SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 113, 6 February 1941, Page 8

MILITARY SERVICE

Further Conscientious Appeals Heard WELLINGTON CASES Application By Jehovah’s Witness Fails Seven appeals against military service on the _ grounds of conscientious objection weie dismissed by the No. 4- Armed Forces Appeal Board in Wellington yesterday. Thirteen appeals were heard, all but two being on these grounds. Ihe appeals of four men were allowed, subject to obligation for . nonmilitary service at the discretion of the Minister of National Service, and two were adjourned, one sine die and the other for three months.

The board comprises Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., chairman, and Messrs. A. Parl’ane and I*. Coyle. Mr. C. O. Bell is the Crown representative. Norris Gilbert Smith, salesman, said he was a Jehovah’s Witness and that his objections to military service were based solely on the teachings of the Scriptures. He said that Jehovah’s Witnesses in England had been granted exemption from military service. Subversive Organization. The chairman: You are aware, of course, that the Jehovah’s Witnesses in New Zealand have been declared a subversive organization t Smith: Yes, sir. Mr. Bell: How long have you been a Jehovah’s Witness? Smith: I have been interested in the movement for about three years, but have been an active member for about four months. Mr. Bell: Are you a New Zealander? —I was born in New Zealand, but I claim to be a foreigner. I do not consider myself to be of the people. My allegiance is to God, not to man. I am really a neutral in this world. He added that if he were in the armv he would not be available to preach God’s word and he would be under Satan’s control. “I am a neutral and have nothing to do whatsoever with the men of tha world,” he concluded. His appeal was dismissed. Right to Kill Denied. Alexander Wilson, grocer’s assistant, submitted a statement in which he said that, because he believed no man to have the right to kill or injure, he could not and would not take part in military service. He was prepared to make a contribution to the economic welfare of the country, however. “If I was attacked,” he added, ‘I would not try to use force, but I would try to reason with my attacker to the best of by ability. I am not prepared to take any active steps toward the defence of my country. I have held these views for the past 20 years and have been a member of the Peace and AntiConscription Ljague since war began. His appeal was dismissed. Stating that for the past eight years he had been studying the principles of Christian Science, Robert Duncan William McCallum, grocer, told the board that the Christian Scientists had formulated the principle that it was an open matter whether a member agreed or disagreed with the rights or wrongs of war.

In answer to Mr. Bell, he said he considered war to be a sin against God. Mr. Bell: Are you prepared to do any non-combatant service? McCallum: I do not think I would. If the occasion arose, however, I would not just stand by and not help anybody who needed help. Mr. Bell: Well is not that the position in this war?—My duty is to God. He gives us laws to be upheld.

Duty to Fellownien.

But surely you think that a man has some duty to his fellowmen as well? —I am doing my duty to my fellowmen by carrying out my daily work. I will not help humanity by killing people. Are you prepared to work for your fellow-men without pay?—Hardly. Do you not think you owe something to your country for the privilege of living in it?—l am doing my duty as a citizen. Man did not give me my country or my liberty. The Chairman: Supposing your job in the army was in an outpost defending against enemy aircraft, or something like that?—l could not. take a job like that. McCallum’s appeal was dismissed. Walter Royce Stagg, garage attendant, said it was against all his principles to kill men or to make weapons for the purpose of killing.

“Why should I travel thousands of miles to kill a man I have never seen before?” be asked. Mr. Bell: Where do you work? Stagg: Witli an electrical company. Mr. Bell: Has that company got any war contracts?—l do not think so. If, say, electrical ranges made by that company were being sent to Trentham, what would you do? —I probably would not stay in my job. What do you think are your obligations to your country?—That is bard to say.

Mr. Bell: Well, wbar steps are you prepared to take to safeguard the interests of your country?—l am not prepared to take any steps so far as war is concerned.

If Wellington was subject to :rn air raid, are you going to stand idly by?— I would assist in that case, but only In a non-combatant way.

Are you frightened to go to war?— I do not think I am .my more frightened than any other mail.

The appeal was dismissed

Humanitarian Grounds.

Charles Stewart, assurance agent, appealed on moral and humanitarian grounds. Killing, lie said, was never justifiable, even if legal, as in war. To him there were no nationalities. It was c ? ly an accident. of birth whether a person was British or non-Britisli. “My horror of killing applies also to the animal kingdom,” he added. "1 wouldn’t kill for sport or food, and think it degrading to make a man a butcher, and for Hurt reason I am a vegetarian, in the animal and human kingdoms all have the fight Io live. 1 cannot interfere witli their destiny.” Mr. Beil: What would be your reaction if you personally were attacked? ' Stewart: First of till I would look u l>ou it as an error on my side. And would you defend yourself?—No.

The only steps lie could take to preserve the safety of the country, he added, would be peaceful steps. His appeal was dismissed. 'Pili* appeal of llarvev limmdL a cutler, was also dismissed. He did not appear, but his statement said that, apart from the fact that lie was of German descent, both parents being registered aliens, lie did not wish to bear

arms against any other worker, irrespective of nationality. Bramwell Wesley Charles Coventry, storeman, appealed on the grounds of religious belief. He was willing to serve his country only in a civil capacity. His appeal was also dismissed.

Appeals Allowed.

The appeals of Alick George Galjer, electrical worker, Robert Alfred Gibbons, student, David Royd Gunn, clerk, and Douglas William Chisholm, packer, were allowed, subject to obligation for non-military service at the discretion of the Minister of National Service. Galyer and Gibbons said they were adherents of the Society of Friends, Galyer being merely an adherent, but Gibbons being an actual member. Edward Henry Dowsett. a member 01. tile board of governors of the Society of Friends’ School in Wanganui, vouched for the sincerity of these two appellants. In his statement, David Royd Gunn said lie was a member of the church known as the Assemblies of God. The members of that, church were not conscientious objectors as a class, but he himself could not. subscribe to the principle of taking life. If lie were attacked personally lie would do his best to defend himself, but would not kill. Confirmation of bis religious beliefs was given by Mr. E. T. Mellor, pastor of the Vivian Street Church of the Assemblies of God. Mr. Mellor also spoke oil behalf of William Ronald Lessels. another member of the Church of the Assemblies of God. Lessels appealed on the grounds Of public interest as well as conscientious objection, lie said that he desired to return to India to study languages and to carry on work as a missionary. He was quite willing to do medical work under military control.

His appeal was adjourned sine die to enable arrangements to be made tor his admission to a medical unit of the Armed Forces.

Case of Christiai) Pacifist

Douglas William Chisholm .-aid in evidence that he was a member of the Christian Pacifist Society and was prepared to carry on any work not under military control ami which was not connected with the destruction of Immunity. He had recently been a Post Office employee. Mr. Bell: Why did you leave the Post Office?

Chisholm: Because I could not undertake work which they wanted me to do—work which would assist in the war effort.

Mr. Bell: They then dismissed you? Yes. Are the beliefs of your society against defending one’s country it attacked.—Yes, I think so. Then It is almost a fifth columnist activity.—No. Are you trying to spread this thought?—Yes. so far as I can. Well, is not that a form of fifth column activity?—You can call it that if you wish. An appeal on the grounds of undue hardship only was made by Thornhill Cooper, shipping clerk. He said that his widowed mother would have insufficient means of support if lie joined the Army. His two sisters were in England doing war work. The appeal was adjourned for three months, so that the intentions of the two sisters regarding their return to New Zealand could be ascertained.