NON-COMBATANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1941, Page 6

NON-COMBATANTS

PASTOR'S EVIDENCE

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS

Seventh Day Adventists were not sponsoring the cause of pacifism and were in-no way shirkers, but they were non-combatants, said Pastor N. C. Burns, of that church, in giving evidence before the Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Burns quoted extracts from a tract entitled "Our Youth in. Time of War." written before the war and given to the Seventh Day Adventi.st youths by their leaders. That tract said that Seventh Day Adventists were not pacifists, not conscientious objectors, and not anti-militarists, but they\were noncombatants. They were prepared to assist in any way they could, provided they were not asked to engage in mortal combat. To do that would be definitely to disobey the Commandments of God. even if done in self-de-fence. "Our young men are advised not to take any of the first three positions." said Mr. Burns.

The chairman (Mr. M. F. Luckie) Then you are not conscientious objec tors?

Mr. Burns: No. There is a very definite difference between the conscientious objector and the non-combatant Non-combatants will aid the Government in every way except by taking human life.

The appellant was Robert Edward Tretheway, aged 27, a commercial artist, and he appealed on conscientious grounds. He said a similar appeal against Territorial service had been dismissed in February! He was a Seventh Day Adventist and had always been prepared to do non-combatant work. He had held his present views for many years and had joined the church about two years ago. The appeal was dismissed. ! An appeal by the Director of National Service on behalf of David Barclay McDougall, a chemist, was adjourned sine die. and adjournments sine die j were also granted in employers' appeals on the ground of public interest and/or ■hardship for. Leslie Ernest Townsend, a radio serviceman and technician, and Williamson William Coxon, a machinery" reconditioner.

The board consisted of Messrs. Luckie, Ai Parlane, and P. Coyle. The Crown was represented by Mr. C. O. Bell: . :

Appealing on the ground of conscience before the Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday, Raymond George Hogarth, aged 29. a clerk, said it did not make much difference to him which side won the war. He believed that war and the taking of life were contrary to the teaching of Christ, but he was prepared to do non-combafent work. : He was a Baptist.

The appeal was dismissed. Employers' appeals on the grounds of public interest and/or hardship were dealt with as .follows: —John Frederick Hetherington, core maker, adjourned sine die; Ivan Laishley Mitchener, foreman artist, dismissed with the condition that he is not to be called up before December 31; Jack Tate, meter repairer, adjourned for review on March 31; Reginald Walter Bryant, motor painter, and Joice Raymond Lawther, motor body builder, adjourned for review on February 4; Eric William Clapham. pressman, adjourned sine die.

Appearing under military escort, James Wilfred Warburton. aged 24, a clerk, appealed on conscientious grounds against service overseas, but his appeal was dismissed. An appeal against Territorial service, made by Warburton on conscientious grounds in July, had also been dismissed, he said. After -the dismissing of that appeal, he said, he failed to report for medical examination and he was arrested and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. After that the military took him and kept him in solitary confinement at Waiouru for six weeks.