CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 30, 5 February 1941, Page 8

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

A further panel of appeals against military service was taken by the Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday afternoon. Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M. (chairman), presided, and Messrs. A. Parlane and P. Coyle were associated with him.

The appeal of Alfred William Henry Antrobus, who asked for exemption on the grounds of hax'dship find conscientious objection, was dismissed.. ;

Jack Edward Ward, a grocer, appealed on the ground of undue hardship.

Mr. H. McCormick appeared for Ward and said that the appellant could not go overseas without sacrificing his business. He was quite willing to do anything to serve his country in fcJe'.v Zealand but considered that there would be undue hardship if he had to sell his business.

The appellant gave evidence regarding his position, and said that it wss practically impossible to sell a small grocery business at the present time.

The appeal was dismissed subject to the appellant not being called up for three months.

Albert William Coffey, an electrical engineer, appealed on the grounds of public interest, hardship, and conscientious objection. He asked/ leave to withdraw the first two and said that his real reason for appealing was. con*; soientious objection. The suggestion that he should train for the purpose or killing his fellow-men was abhorrent and impossible. He could bring witnesses to prove that he had always held that view.

To the Crown representative (Mr. C. O. Bell), he said that he would resign from his employment rather tj'.an engage in war work. He would rather be under British rule than Nazi rule, but he did not think it was worth fighting over.

K. H. Black, an engineer, said that he had lived with the appellant and had argued the question of military service. While he did not agree with Coft'ey's views he was satisfied that they were sincere.

William Aspin Bloodworth, an engineer, gave similar evidence.

The appeal was dismissed

Trevor George Purves, clerk, appealed on conscientious grounds and said that he was a Christian pacifist. He considered that war was contrary to Christianity, and he would not serve in any way that would assist the military machine.

The Rev. H. C. Dixon, a minister of the Methodist Church, said that the appellant had been a pacifist ever since he had known him.

The appeal was allowed subject to Regulation 8 under which the Minister may direct the reservist to undertake service not in an armed force.

Noel Bonifacius Anderson, a shop assistant, appealed on conscientious grounds but said that he had no objection to ser.ving in a non-combatant capacity. He had no desire to cause trouble, but had a deep aversion to taking up service where he might be asked to kill.

When the chairman assured him that the board would x'ecommend that he be appointed to a non-combatant unit, Anderson said that he would be satisfied if he could get an assurance that he would not be transferred later.

Decision was reserved