CONSCIENCE CLAIM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20618, 20 November 1941, Page 6

CONSCIENCE CLAIM

TERRITORIAL service APPEAL DISMISSED The first of two appeals against military service, heard to-day in Gisborne by the No. 4A Armed Forces Appeal Board, was that of Owen Grenville Tinching, cabinetmaker’s apprentice, who placed a statement before the board in support of his appeal against Territorial service. He said that for the past 18 months he had been a member of the Exclusive Brethren, and felt that he could not do combatant duty with a good conscience. He was fully prepared to undertake non-combatant service under military control. To Mr. J. S. Wauchop, Crown representative, the appellant said that ho began attending the meetings of the Exclusive Brethren prior to the outbreak of war. He could not rernom* her the month in which the War broke out,, not having any interest in ihili* tarv matters. lie had not joined any ambulance society or nnv othc-r voluntary, organisation. .... ... Reginald C. Piesso. a follow-,member of the Exclusive Brethren, said that Pinching had a conscience about taking human life. The sect allowed its members liberty of conscience in the matter of taking up arms. The witness said to the Crown representative that he would not take up arms under any circumstances that he could imagine. He had not advised Pinching in the preparation of his appeal, however. The appeal was dismissed. 4