RETURNED SOLDIER
Conscientious Objector To War Service
HIS APPEAL DISMISSED
A returned soldier, culled on in fl home service* ballot for three months territorial service, appealed before the
No. 4 Armed F(>rees Appeal Board in Wellington yesterday on the ground ot conscientious objection. His appeal was dismissed. He was Harold Barnes, labourer. Petone. Barnes said he saw considerable service in Hie Great War after enlisting at 18. What he saw there—-the waste of war. its futility and its aftermath determined him never again to take part in war. He had since studied the causes, effects, and results, of Hie Great War. and similar wars, and his view was unchanged. Barnes said he had no religious objection; he objected to war because he saw its absolute futility. He had belonged to the Christian Pacifist Society for some years and had been interested in pacifism for 29 years. His view of the war was of one class of world domitialors against another. The way to stop war was by not taking part. He would not give his life to aid any dominant class. The chairman: What were you in the last war? —Just a common private in the infantry.
Il is your view that the present war is a class struggle?—lt is a struggle between the dominant people of other countries and those who dominate us iu England.
Leaving that out. what would you do if New Zealand was invaded? —I would be pleased to join the Rev. Mr. Burton and go out and welcome the enemy rather than start or take part in a shooting match. If the Germans were resisted for several days hall our homes would be destroyed and hundreds killed and wounded; what "mugs” we would lie.
Appellant said that in his experience of the past 20 years the British idea of uuenrploymeru aml starvation had been followed in New Zealand. Mr. C. O. Bell (Crown representative); You think the Germans no worse?—l doubt if they are either better or worse. I don't know much about them : in that regtj.rd I am in the same position as yon.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 117, 11 February 1941, Page 3
Word Count
350RETURNED SOLDIER Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 117, 11 February 1941, Page 3
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