SHIRKERS' "RIGHTS"

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 138, 7 December 1918, Page 4

SHIRKERS' "RIGHTS"

PARLIAMENT'S DECREE

When the Expeditionary Forces Bill was before the House of Representatives yesterday Mr. M'Combs made another plea for military defaulters (liable in the Bill to deprivation of civil rights up to ten years). He moved an amendment on behalf of such defaulters.

The Minister of Defence said he hoped that the House would reject the proposal. The genuine conscientious objector, on religious grounds, would bo remold froia the lis.t. But the others who had saved their skins by shirking should not have a privilege. The amendment was lost on the voices.

On the motion for the third reading Messrs. Holland (Grey) and Fraser (Wellington Central) stated in half-hour speeches the case for conscientious objectors and defaulters generally. Mr. B. A. Wright replied with a vigour which was warmly applauded (a rare tribute in a debate). Mr. T. A. H. Field (Nelson), after [ reading extracts from a paper formevly edited by Mr. Holland, remarked: "Is it any wonder shirkers are manufactured in New Zealand?" Sir James Allen said that the member for Grey had said conscription was extended for twelve months by the Bill. It wa« not conscrintion, which was practically dead, but provision was made for the maintenance of disciplino till tho Expeditionary Force was demobilised. He was glad now that tho strict line had been drawn between the' religious and the conscientious objector. Ho had been among3t some of tho so-called conscientious objectors, and had wondered on what were their consciences built. Some had said they would as soon be under German as British rule. Were these men worthy of British citizenship ? Many of these men were defiant objectors and not conscientious objectors, and now the hon. member for Grey was asking for an indemnity for them, ro that they < might be released before the men wbo had been fighting. When the fighting men returned, were they to find these cowards who had developed a conscience when the war broke out the posts soldiers should occupy? For the | genuine religious objector there was a j good case. i The Minister was heartily applauded.