RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 July 1916, Page 6

RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS

PARLIAMENT’S COMPROMISE.

NON-FIGHTERS AT THE FRONT.

(Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, This Day. The long negotiations between both' 'Houses on the question of the religious objector to military service has ended in the adoption of a clause under which the State may force, this class right to the front bn non-combatant work. The terms of the agreement' submitted to the House of Representatives yesterday show that the conference agreed to exempt the religious objector from actual combatant service, . providing he served in a non-combat-ant capacity, including service in the medical corps and the army service corps, and this service to be given not merely in New Zealand but wherever the military authorities require it. , ~ ; When the Premier had explained what the conference had agreed upbn ".Mr. Wilford remarked: “That overrules a resolution of the House.” Mr. Massey explained that instead of non-military service the religious objector could, under the amended clause, be called upon to perform noncombatant service everywhere he is wanted, ■ . Mr, Wilford: “Both words are equally obnoxious.” (Hear, hear), Mr. Young: “He is after a soft job.” (Hear. hear). Mr, Massey pointed out that such a man had to do many hazardous things in cold blood, ’’without any excitement such as belonged to a bayonet charge, throwing shrapnel, and that sort of thing.” “I know if I had iny chance I would rather have the excitement of the bayonet charge,” he added. 4 The Hon. Mr. Allen hoped the House would unanimously agree to the fair and reasonable compromise. Thepoint was; Is this clause safe from the point of view of stopping any chance for the shirker? ■Mr. Wilford: “That’s the whole point. , Mr. Allen, continuing, said a man would have ,to prove to the Exemption Board his absolute belief that it was contrary to Divine revelation to bear arms for. his country. This would be a pretty stiff proposition. A deputation from all the religious bodies except one in Wellington, including Bishop Sprott and Dr. Gibb— Mr. Wilford: “They’re not men of the world.” Mr, Allen said the,; deputation were in favour of the Bill. -They wanted compulsion, but did not wish to be . placed in the position that some of them would have to refuse to employ a man because he would not accept

military service, and that that . man should be put into gaol. Mr. Isitt declared that the clause had been whittled away until it represented very little to the section whose view he deplored, but whose virtue he admired. . , , The Hon. 'Mr. Herries said’: “We have allowed the Council to put in the religious objetcor’s clause, although I think it will be very difficult for the religious objector to take . advantage o fit.” .. '

An lion, member: “That is the .whole matter. It is force.” Mr. Herries: we want to do is to get the Bill through.” A division resulted in the conference’s amendments to the Bill being agreed to by 44 to 18.