ORDERS NOT OBEYED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20638, 19 August 1941, Page 2

ORDERS NOT OBEYED

TRENTHAM COURTA CONSCIENTIOUS CASE ADVICE OF MINISTER Appearing in civilian clothes. Private Raymond Firmston, Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, pleaded guilty before a district courtmartial aLT-rentham camp to' two charges--of disobeying lawful commands, the first being a refusal to be medically examined and the second a refusal to receive blankets and rness--1 ing gear. A report of the proceedings will be forwarded to the officer convening the court-fnartial, Brigadier N. W. McD. Weir, N.Z.S.C.. who will consider the court’s recommendation of sentence. Accused's statement was read to the court. It said: — Origin of Beliefs “I will not kill or help anybody to kill. War does no good at all. We can only turn our enemies by loving them. War only breeds hatred and more wars. I certainly respect the soldier who is prepared to go -overs'eas, among whom are some of my best friends. I am prepared to stand by my beliefs. These-views I have held since 1928 when I heard a lecture and witnessed a film relating to the ghastly futility of endless war. The speaker on this occasion was the now Minister of National Service, Mr. Robert Semple, who encouraged myself and other young men to oppose war, even though it meant great suffering as had been experienced by some of Mr. Semple’s friends, and it was only by people making a definite stand against war that freedom of all men would eventually/-take place. “I fully realise the implications involved in refusing .to be medically examined ancLequipped and, as I have stated before, ! will be proud to suffer any punishment that may' be given.” Politicians Change Views Major Dunn, for accused, said it was a case of conscientious refusal. Accused had made up his mind and had already suffered imprisonment. During the past few years, as was a matter of almost common khowfedge. there had been a lot of loose talk about pacifism, which had spread throughout New Zealand. In the present case the accused said that the man who now caused him to be called up had encouraged him to pacifist views. It was all very well for politicians, who were used to that sort of thing, to preach pacifist views at one stage and then when the national feeling was different, to change their views easily. It was not, however, so easy for their disciples, who had not the facility to adapt themselves to public feeling. Victim of Circumstances Here was a case of a man who had generally held himself out as a pacifist in company with a number of otherpeople who no longer held those views. Accused had always said he was a pacifist and he could not now suddenly change his views and say he did not mean what he said before. It might be said that he was mentally bewildered for he had been encouraged to believe that everything to do with war was wrong and further, he said he had been encouraged to that view by the present Minister of' National Service; nq.w .he; felt some mental distress to find that the same Minister now insisted that he should perform military service. He asked the court to take into consideration, in recommending sentence the: fact that accused had been the victim of circumstances.