CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Evening Star, Issue 23817, 22 February 1941, Page 8

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

DISMISSAL FROM EMPLOYMENT COUNTY COUNCIL’S DECISION [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February H. The Waiteniata County Council's decision not to employ conscientious objectors received support from a deputation which waited on the council to discuss the case of a member of the outside staff who had been dismissed, but was still working for the council without pay. The chairman, Mr S. Phillips, said that two legal opinions which had been obtained supported the council in its action. It was stated by Mr W. A. Bishop that after his dismissal, the man had been allowed to continue with his work as a result of the intervention of the member for that particular riding, Mr H. Day, but he had been told he would receive no pay. Mr Day said the re-employment, ot the man was allowed pending a review of the position at the council’s meetxn<r. Mr Bishop said it was necessary iur the council to decide who was in charge of the outside stuff, the overseer or the individual riding members. The council affirmed the procedure that the overseer was in charge. STRONG OBJECTIONS. The leader of the deputation, Mr K. Small, secretary of tiie Albany -Returned Soldiers’ Club, said that, correspondence between ]us club and the riding member had been most uusatislactory. Captain T. Connolly, M.C., D.C.M., said that us vice-president of the Album' Returned Soldiers’ Club, as commander of the Homo Guard in the district, and as a ratepayer, he objected very strongly to the employment by any public body of; a conscientious objector. Speaking to' the deputation, Mr Day said it was not for the council to take the [dace of the courts and committees which had been set up to deal with such matters. Other members of the council said the decision not to employ conscientious objectors had boon made by 10 votes to one. They expressed themselves as being entirely in sympathy with the deputation’s views, and explained that the man was not being paid. After the withdrawal of the deputation, the council passed on to other business, the chairman stating that the decision not to employ any conscientious objectors stood.