OBJECTORS’ APPEALS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 119, 13 February 1941, Page 9

OBJECTORS’ APPEALS

Eight Of Eleven Dismissed

WELLINGTON DECISIONS

Eleven appeals of conscientious objectors were heard by the No. 4 Armed Forces Appeal Board at Wellington yesterday. Eight of the appeals were dismissed and three allowed subject to alternative non-military service at the direction of the Minister of National Service. The board comprised Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M. (chairman), Mr. A. Parlane ami Mr. I’. Coyle, with Mr. C. O Bell as Crown representative and Mr D. Roundhill, secretary The board will not meet, again till Monday. George Edward Hart, seaman, and formerly a student, said be regarded the taking of life as a direct negation of the purpose of living. The appeal was allowed subject to alternative non-military service at the direction of the Minister of National Service. He thought that if thousands of people in all lands sent out thoughts of the right kind at a fixed hour much of the present suffering would cease, said Robert Herne Stones, who stated he had been an evangelist for some years. The appeal was dismissed. The chairman suggested to appellant that he inform the military authorities that he was an evangelist and ask to be posted to a. non-combatant unit. Christian Pacifist. He did not want to see any country win the war but rather *a peaceful settlement, said Mervyn David George Tarkington, plumber's apprentice, who said he joined the Christian Pacifist Society in April, 1939, ns the result of a leaflet he received at a Methodist Bible class camp. The appeal was dismissed. John L. Short, painter and paperhanger (Mr. P. Fitzherliert) was stated to have been brought up in a family atmosphere opposed to war. His mother came of a Quaker family.

The appeal was allowed subject to alternative non-military service at the direction of the Minister of National Service. He thought he would be jeopardizing his soul if he took a life, said John Patrick Mohan, .storeman. The appeal was dismissed. A Methodist pacifist ami a lay reader, Robert William ITorrobin, radio salesman and serviceman, also included the ground of hardship to his semi-in-valid mother in his appeal. He believed love was mightier than the sword.

This appeal was allowed subject to alternative non-military service at the direction of Ibe Minister of National Service.

He could not take part in a war where worker had to fight worker, but he would bo quite prepared to engage in a revolution to bolter workers’ conditions, said Victor Hawkins, ship rigger. His appeal was dismissed at once, the chairman stating that appellant's admission that ho was prepared to take part in revolution—obviously an armed conflict —ruled out bis appeal at once. * Non-Combatant Offer. George How, metal polisher, said he was opposed to killing, but he would do his part in a medical unit or noncombatant capacity. The appeal was dismissed.

"I am prepared to pray.” said John Chirk .Stephenson, accountant, when asked by Mr. Bell what he was prepared to do. The appeal was dismissed.