GUIDED BY STARS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 9

GUIDED BY STARS

Conscientious Objector’s Appeal

A SCHOOL ENTERTAINER

"Having been born under the astrological influence of Taurusian nativity, I naturally partake of those honourable qualities which the divine order of things, through the planetary system, has so graciously endowed upon the privileged individuals born under this particular sign of the Zodiac which is ruled by the most brilliant of planets, Venus, which sheds its grace and influence over art, beauty, love and all heavenly and peaceful glories of this earth,” said Cyril Austin Hardy (Professor Handini), a State schools entertainment organizer, who appealed on conscientious grounds before the No. 4 Armed Forces Appeal Board at,-.Wel-lington yesterday. “I was born on May 7,1909, and according to numerological science, seven is the sacred number of the earth, also the number of genius and the number of mystery. Because of this mysterious influence I have become first a magician and secondly a philosopher—a profound seeker of the mysterious elements and the truth of life,” stated appellant. He said that his conscientious objection came because his spirit was extrasensitively nervous through a life of ill mental health and nervous breakdown arising from a dozen tragic incidents in his life within the last 10 years.

The board would understand what a sensitive nature he had when he told it that when born be was given two months to live. At school he was exempt from strenuous exercise because of a weak heart. He left school before the sixth standard because of health and was exempted from cadet and territorial training. He con’d not take up a trade for the same reason and became a musician and after the talking pictures came he started his present enterprise. He had devoted his life to helping people and institutions in distress and because of this charitable nature he felt it his duty to help the pacifists to uphold their ideals. In a national emergency he would help in any humane fashion, without meeting aggression with aggression. Sign of the Zodiac. Mr. AV. F. Stilwell, S.M. (chairman) asked appellant how the sign of the Zodiac, which he said affected his life and beliefs, could help his conscience. Appellant: I know the stars have made me what I am. In another part, of his lengthy statement, appellant said he objected to the Government saeriligeously claiming the right to judge anyone's conscience. That right was reserved for the Lord who would exercise it on the Day of Judgment. Mr. Stilwell: It is no use reflecting on the Government for having passed the law and for creating this board. AVhat is the use of it? It is simply a waste of time. The law has been passed aud the board set up lo examine these cases.

Mr. C. O. Bell (Grown representative) : You believe your fate to be decreed by the stars?—Yes. Can you believe that and also be a Christian? —Yes. Suppose you had been born under Mars. AVould that have made you warlike? —Yes. but they all dovetail in to God’s plan. The appeal was dismissed.