"LOVED THE GERMANS”

Evening Star, Issue 24004, 1 October 1941, Page 11

"LOVED THE GERMANS”

OBJECTOR BEFORE APPEAL BOARD WOULD NOT RESIST INVASION A conscientious objector who considered he loved the Germans in an ? idealistic kind of way,” but who would not fight to repel an invader or strike back if anyone hit him, appeared before the Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday afternoon _ seeking examption from military service. He was Walter Sidney Metcalf, an assistant lecturer of chemistry at the Otago University. Aged 23, he held very decided views of the question of war, even to the extent of objecting to do alternative service in an ambulance corps. A Presbyterian, he admitted to Mr A. N. Haggitt, for the Crown, that he was out of step with the beliefs of his church. Mr Haggitt wanted to know how Metcalf could associate with people whem, he considered murderers, which brought the reply: “ I have to associate ■with a lot, of people with whom I disagree.” In a statement he placed_ before the board, Metcalf said he did not try to justify' the Germans in their evil actions, but he loved them in spite of that. Mr Haggitt; Do you profess to love these people who are now raining down bombs on women and children in Britain?—Yes. . What do you term love? In a long and halting explanation of his definition of the word, appellant said he meant that he held no bitterness towards them. He regarded them as human beings -with souls of God. and as such, sacred. It was very difficult to define the word, ho added, which prompted the chairman of the board (Mr J. 51. Bartholomew, S.M.) to tell Metcalf ho was only quibbling. The word was only elementary in its meaning. Mr Haggitt: Docs it mean nothing to yon that if everyone thought as you did England would be lying under the heel of a conqueror to-day?—l don’t think it is very important. I believe that if Britain wins the war the world will be a better place to live in than if Germany won, but that this fact, nevertheless, does not justify war. This fact did not justify him in the use of force to prevent it, appellant said. He would not bear arms if the country was invaded. The Chairman: If someone knocked you down, would you strike back—No, sir.

Metcalf admitted he paid war tax, but that was because ho could not entirely divorce himself from the State, unless he went on to a desert island, or committed suicide.

Evidence in support of appellant was given by Lloyd George Geary, a theological student at Knox College, who admitted he hold tho same views as Metcalf, and said these ideas crystallised in 1938.

Mr Bartholomew: You have a good fighting name, anyhow. Witness: lam not responsible for my name.

Mr Bartholomew: Come, come, surely you are not going to change it, surely. Make that concession to your conscience.

Evidence was also given by the Rev. H. W. Turner, of the Presbyterian Church, who said he had tried to argue with appellant, but without result. Metcalf -was a very serious young man. He gave serious thought to everything he did. He was the Scout master for Knox Church. Tliis fact elicited tho remark from the chairman that such a position was not consistent with tho views held by another conscientious objector who had been before the court. That man had thrown in his job ns Scout master.

After further evidence the board reserved its decision.

An appeal on conscientious grounds was also lodged by Heath Thurlow Thompson, a fourth-year medical student, who on the grounds of public interest had already been successful in an appeal lodged on bis behalf by the Dean of the Medical Faculty (Dr 0. E. Herons). Like Metcalf, this appellant said be would not fight to resist invasion. His own anneal was allowed.