OBJECTIONS TO DRILL

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 81, 5 April 1928, Page 14

OBJECTIONS TO DRILL

MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE ATTITUDE OF CHURCH (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Pour young men mado applications to Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court for exemption from drill. Thej' were Allen M. Eichards, aged 21, William E. Byrt, aged 19, Alexander Miller, aged 19, and Leonard G. Usher,aged 21. They based their objections on religious grounds, and ministers were called to testify that the beliefs of the applicants were genuine and honest. In speaking on behalf of the applicants, Mr. Cocker said the youths were not the sort who desired to shirk military training simply because it was irksome. It was not a ease of absenting themselves from the drill hall because they were careless and gave no thought to their country, but because they firmly believed their convictions were right. "Who interprets their-beliefs?" the Magistrate asked. 'iThe" teachers, I, suppose, the applicants being students." Counsel: "No, sir. You sitting here as a Court of law, must decide that question. It is for you to say whether you hold that their personal beliefs are | bona fide. I admit seeing a difficulty the Court will have in discriminating between those who might be genuine and those who are not." , The Magistrate: "Already two of them have been refused exemption, and yet they deliberately flaunt the law and the ruling of this Court by not attending drills. Why don't the}' go before some higher Court and seek exemption?" Counsel: "They Lave made inqulr-' ies, but found there is no higher Court.' The Magistrate. must decide, and so they come to you again. Some people will suffer a great deal, when they honestly hold such beliefs. I see that one fear the Court will have in granting the applications is that it.might be inundated with similar requests from-all sorts of people, who, perhaps will claim the same ground'for exemption.". 'The Magistrate:'''lf, then, a student for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church hasa view—an individual view —that military training ;is against the ■■teaching; then he cannot be a member of the Church; can he?" CHANGE OF VIEWS. Counsel: "Views of members of the Presbyterian General Assembly j who met in Christchurch last year, have changed somewhaj;. At the last assembly they passed a resolution in which there is a clause which reads that the Church 'claims for members of this Church who hold conscientious objecttions to military training on religious grounds, the rights of exemptions.' " The Magistrate: "Then a student holding those views .can become a clergyman in the Presbyterian Church." Counsel: "Yes, even although it is known that perhaps 99 J per cent, of Presbyterians think differently from the student they do not hold that against'him if it is his individual genuine belief." Evidence was then called in support of the application of Usher, who was said to be a member of the Birkenhead Church, and an ex-member of the Auckland Bible Union, who was by profession a teacher. "I bolieve military training to bo a' preparation for war, and I could not tako part in war, because it is un-Chris-tiau and evil," said Usher; "therefore, [ cannot take part in preparation for war." Tho Magistrate': "How about tlofcneo? Wotfldn't you take part in defending your mother, your father, your sister, or your wifo?" Usher: "I consider defence is a form of preparation for war, in which I cannot take part." Suggestions wcro made that Usher should join either tho St. John Ambulance Brigade, the Military Medical Corps, or do some clerical work in the military office. "No," he' replied, "if 1,, did any one of those things I would bo' taking part in the military machine., and I will not do that." Tho Magistrate: "Then what service aro you prepared to give your country? What do you say to becoming a incnibor of tho Boy Scout movement1!" Captain Wales (representing the Dofonco Department): "He would have to wear a uniform there, and ho objects to wearing anything khaki." Tho Magistrate: "Yes, and it would bo a nico uniform for him. Ho would havo a broomstick and a big clasp knife. Howovor, 1 will give him time 'to think tho matter over, and ho can come hero again and tell mo what ho thinks of it." Tho caso was adjourned for a fortnight. Described as having had a good military performance to his crodit, Byrt, whoso caso was then taken, was called. It was said he had won a shield for efficiency as a non-commissioned officor, and that it was only recently he had decided to adopt the views which ho now hold. "When I was serving under tho military authorities, I was fond of tho work," Byrt said. "Now, lam sorry I did not decide against it bofore." Tho Magistrate: "Why not a Scoutmastor?" Byrt: "I won't bo a Scoutmaster because boing in the Scouts only puts military ideas into your head." .' , j Judgment was reserved in this case. Said to bo tho son of a Holensvillo minister, Miller said that ho hold similar views. When giving evidence, the Rev. T. Halliday, Moderator of the Auckland Presbytery, said the student did not full foul of tho Church because ho held such beliefs. The Magistrate: "That is what has been puzzling me. Onco I was under the impression that tho Church looked askance at those who held conscientious objections. Now I find tho views of tho Church havo changed." Decision was deferred for a fortnight. FOURTH APPEARANCE. "Look hero," tho Magistrate said ■when the name of Richards was called, "this boy has been before Mr. Outtcn and Mr. M'Kean and myself with the same application, and wo havo all dis-

; missed it. iS Tow he comes before me again." Since Eichards's case had been first brought to Court, said Dr. Gibb, of l Wellington, the Assembly had carefully considered the matter, and it had passed the resolution (part of which was quoted by counsel). The Magistrate: "Do you think these lads are mature enough in their minds to decide this sort of question. You see, if I let this thing go too far, we will have every lad who wants to stop away from parades and drill coming here with this same kind of tale." Dr. Gibb: "The members of the Church are moving toward the abolition of compulsory military training." In evidence, Eichards said he would do nothing that was in any way connected with the machinery of war. "Perhaps, then, you will consider becoming a Scoutmaster, and help the boys in their tramps to the Waitakere Hills," the Magistrate said. "You would, I thing, be a very suitable young man for that position." For the purpose of allowing the applicant to consider the proposition, the case was adjourned for a fortnight.