UNWANTED MEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20601, 31 October 1941, Page 4

UNWANTED MEN

ARMY OBJECTORS CONSCIENTIOUS CASES R.S.A. COUNCIL'S VIEWS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Outspoken views on the subject o£ conscientious objectors followed the presentation to the extraordinary Dominion council meeting of the New Zealand Returned Services Association in Wellington yesterday of a recommendation from a special committee on conscientious objectors to the council that the N.Z.R'.S.A. did not recognise an objector to military service on conscientious grounds, and that suitable service should be found for such persons with the armed forces. A.mong those who took part in the debate were the president, the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., and Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, a past president.

The recommendation was almost unanimously defeated.

Major-General Russell said ,he did not know how to tell if a man was a conscientious objector. He thought contentious objectors were mentally defective and spiritually wrong. However, they had to recognise that there was a right of appeal. It was his opinion that a conscientious objector was no good in the ranks. It had been suggested that there was room somewhere in the army for hundreds of conscientious objectors. He did not know where. Further, in his experience of the last eight to 10 months, they would not be wanted in camps either. They should be passed out and, by all means, deprived of their civil rights, for, if a man would not defend his country, he did not deserve these. As for the recommendation, it was going too far. Some Definitely Opposed Mr. C. O. Bell, Wellington, said that as Crown representative on the No. ,4 Armed Forces Appeal Board, he had been concerned with more objectors than the others present. His opinion was that there were men definitely and conscientiously opposed to doing anything in the army as they thought this would be aiding and abetting in killing. As long as they called themselves Christians, they should concede this right.

“I feel that the passing of this recommendation would be a blow to the high reputation which the N.Z.R.S.A. enjoys for fair play,” said Mr. Perry. The best British institutions were base'4 on respect for the rights of conscience. He knew there was a feeling that objectors escaped equality of sacrifice, but where could this be got? “Take a man exempted from war service because he is in a key position and eai’ning big wages, or an unfit man who goes about his ordinary life with no sacrifice beyond taxation and anything he likes to. give,” said Mr. Perry. They should put the question in the background and get on with the job of winning the war and not get caught up in the hysteria permeating the country on this particular issue.

Comprehensive Remit

A comprehensive remit regarding conscientious objectors was adopted by the council on the recommendation of the special committee on defence, objectors and the fighting forces matters. The remit stated: “That this Dominion council of the N.Z.R.S.A., in view of the right granted to reservists called up under the national service regulations to appeal on various grounds, views with alarm the increase in the number of appeals on conscientious »grounds and the cumbersome and slow method of dealing With these objectors. After the decision of the appeal board, the board divides the appellants into three classes: (a) Genuine and upheld by the board; (b) genuine but willing to give nonr combatant service; (c) dismissed. “This council recommends. —Class A: That appellants should promptly appear before a one-man tribunal for the fixing of alternative service, any penalties imposed by the conditions of service to be made retrospective to the date of the determination of the appeal.

“Class B. —The decision of the appeal board to stand, and noncombatant service to be immediately entered upon, the appropriate armed services authorities to take the necessary action. “Class C.—The decision of the appeal board to stand and the necessary action to be taken by the appropriate armed services authorities, any such conscientious objector who fails to render such alternative service or non-combatant service or service with the armed forces to be promptly dealt with as a defaulter.”