MILITARY SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 8

MILITARY SERVICE

Conscientious Objectors Appeal VARIETY OF GROUNDS Further objectors to military service on conscientious grounds were before ti'.-e No. -1 Armed Forces Appeal Board at Wellington yesterday, most appeals being dismissed. Mr. W. !’. Stilwell, S.M., Mr. A. I,’arlane and Mr. I*. Coyle comprised lhe board, witli Mr. C. D. Hell as Crown representative and Mr L). Roundbill secretary. ■•Personally 1 derive the greatest enjoyment from just being alive, from breathing the air which is free to everyone and everything, from observing the majesty of nature in her manifold moods, ami troni tin* enjoyments of the senses in reading and listening to lhe artistic legacies which former ages have bequeathed to the present," said David Meyer Gold, tailor, in his statement. His appeal was dismissed.

Robert Hawley Lee Goddin. Government clerk, said lie would not lake up arms as it was against. Hie Scriptures. but he was prepared to do uoiteoinbatant service. His appeal was dismissed with tt recommendation that, if possible, lie be posted to the medical corps. am proud to be under British rule, and I know for sure that Jehovah God' will destroy the nations, but Hie British will receive more mercy at His hands for they have given the true Christian Hie wonderful privilege of carrying out His consecration ami to serve God and His King. Christ Jesus,” said William Howard Boxaii Bell, civil servant, and a Jehovah's Witness.

Tile appeal was dismissed Believed in Utilise.

hill Harcourt Chessoil, springniaker. a Christian -Scientist, said lie believed in tlx* justice of the cause and would do his bit. in any part of the forces where he did not have to take up arms to destroy life. His appeal was dismissed witli a recommendation that, if possible, he be posted to a noncombatant unit:.

He had no time for militarism in any shape or form, right troni his cadet days, said Frederick William Bell. Railways Depart meat, truckdriver. an appellant on the ground of hardship and conscientious objection. He said he was the sole support of his widowed mother. ■'Home life doe.me," said appellant. The appeal was dismissed.

Nathan Sydney Dea tins. schoolteacher. said lie was against war on humanitarian and moral grounds; he was not a Christian. He did not l>elieve there was true democracy yet: only a state approaching that. He had refused to take the oath of loyalty to God and the King when a scour leader last year and he hud given up the appointment.

The appeal was dismissed. The appeal of Raymond Etters Bernasconi, munition worker, on the ground of conscientious objection, was dismissed for lack of prosecution.

Claiming to lie a scientific socialist, Charles Peter Furey, labourer, Petone, said lie objected on the basis of class consciousness. He believed the war to lie due to Hie natural unceasing search of capitalists of all countries for markets and materials for the benefit of themselves and enslavement of workers internationally. He would not hesitate to fight, for his own interests or those of the working classes.

Producing a book by Karl Marx, which lie claimed was his authority, appellant said that the only war he would favour was one which would clear the way for a class war. The appeal was dismissed. Appeal Allowed.

Jack Clayland Field, civil servant, had his appeal allowed with a recommendation of alternative service at the direction of the Minister of National Service. lie said his conscientious objection was established in 1935 when, at Wellington College, he would no longer wear a military uniform or take part in training. He was then exempted till he left in 1937.

“Believing us 1 do tluit the return of Christ to the earth is imminent, irnd as He has expressly forbidden His true followers to bear arms, 1 regret that 1 cannot undertake any service in the armed forces,” said Frederick Gorton, warehouseman.

Mr. S. W. Fitzherberl said appellant had been brought up a Cbristadelpliian but was not yet a member of the church, membership only being available nt a mature age.

Appellant said that in 1935 lie up plied for admission to fellowship, but owing to some ol' his beliefs he had not yet been admitted. The appeal was allowed, it. being recommended that he be given alternative service at the direction of the Minister of National Service. He had been asked to resign from the Jewish Social Club because of his views and the rabbi had turned his back on him, saying that he was not a Jew if lie would not serve, said \\ ilfrid Franks, painter.

For .15 years, on intellectual and emotional grounds, he had believed that no man had the right to take another s life, lie believed Jesus Io he the master conscientious objector. He was convinced of war’s futility after what lie saw in England after the Great War. Tim appeal was dismissed.