REVISION AUTHORITY SITS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 232, 28 June 1945, Page 5

REVISION AUTHORITY SITS

Appeals By Defaulters PROCEDURE EXPLAINED Dominion Special Service.

PALMERSTON N., June 27. Before bearing applications for the release on parole of persons held in military defaulters’ detention camps at the first sitting of the No. 2 Revision Authority in Palmerston North touay, Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., who presided, made a statement covering the provisions under which the authority was set up and outlined his intentions in matters on which he could exercise his discretion. “Any party who appears before a revision authority may oe represented by a barrister or solicitor," he said, “or, with the leave of the revision authority, by any other person. A revision authority may admit and accept, for such value as he thinks fit any evidence whether admissible in a court of law or not. “The regulations provide that no person is to be present at any proceedings unless he is permitted by the revision authority to be present. It is my intention to permit the Press and all persons interested to be present, subject to good behaviour, except in circumstances where the public interest requires their exclusion.. I apprehend that. such circumstances will very rarely, if ever, occur. “No person is by the regulations, to print or publish any report of the proceedings except as authorized by the revision authority. I shall have no objection to the publication of any fair or' accurate report of the proceedings, except perhaps in the exceptional circumstances I have mentioned, and I propose to indicate to the Press if and when such exceptional circumstances occur. “Any defaulter, other than a defaulter serving a sentence of imprisonment or one who is absent by escaping from detention or is absent without leave after temporary release, may from time to time apply for release on parole by a revision authority from defaulters' detention. The revision authority, after considering the application may order (a) that the defaulter be released on parole either indefinitely or for a period to be specified in the order: (b) that the defaulter be released on parole as aforesaid subject to special supervision by the controlling officer of detention; (e) that the application be deferred; or (d) that the application be refused.

“The regulations require that the revision authority shall not order the release of any defaulter unless he is satisfied that the defaulter holds a conscientious belief that would prevent his participation in war. The effect of this is to place upon the defaulter the burden of proving that he holds such a belief and to make the presence or absence of such a belief in the defaulter the sole ground upon -which his application will be granteel or refused. “In considering any application the revision authority may take into consideration the behaviour of the defaulter during the period of his detention. The behaviour oj a defaulter, however good, is no ground for ordering his release. At the most, good conduct and good work in camp may in some cases be an indication that the defaulter is a man of conscientious character and therefore that his objection to service is more likely to be conscientious.

“The release on parole of any defaulter is to be subject to his giving an undertaking in writing to comply with the following conditions in addition to,any other conditions that the revision "authority may specify in the order for release: (a) to comply with all his obligations under the Industrial Manpower Emergency Regulations, 1944; (b) to compl.v with all orders and directions made in respect of ’the defaulter by any member of the special tribunal; (c) to notify his address and any change, of address to the director. and (d) not to participate in any activity deemed by the director to be prejudicial to the war ( effort or to the public interest in wartime.” AUCKLAND SITTING (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 27.

The procedure before the revision authority when military defaulters’ cases are being reviewed was fully explained by Mr. A. H. Johnstone. K.C.. when the initial sitting opened this morning in St. Andrew’s Hall. He said the proceedings would be open to the public and the Press and that forms of application had been supplied to every defaulter. ■