APPEAL DISMISSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20629, 3 December 1941, Page 6

APPEAL DISMISSED

BIBLE CLASS LEADER EMPLOYED BY STATE OPPOSED TO SERVICE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The president of the New Zealand Methodist Young Men’s Bible Class Movement, Albert Gordon Worbovs, a clerk in the Income Tax Department, was a conscientious objecfor appellant before the No. 4 Armed Forces Appeal Board in Wellington yesterday. The appeal was dismissed. The appellant stated that he could not find any justification on Christian grounds for taking part in warfare, irrespective of the purpose or grounds of expediency on which such warfare might appear to be based. On the contrary, there was a clear call to express love to one’s neighbours and enemies alike in all circumstances. He had been closely associated with the Methodist Church all his life. He had been a senior member of the Taranaki Methodist Church for 11 years and held the office of society steward and secretary of the church trust. He had been a leader of the young men’s Bible class for six years, had held office on the Wellington District Young Men’s Bible Class Union executive since 1931, including the position of president, and had served on the national executive of the New Zealand Methodist Young. Men’s Bible Class Movement since 1937. He was now president. Part of War Machine Pie saw no difference between combatant and non-combatant service. His attitude to a non-combatant unit was that it was an essential and integral oart of the war machine and, though in some instances its work included ministering to the sick and wounded, it was clone primarily for the furtherance of the cause for which wholesale slaughter was being carried out. The appellant said he recognised and was concerned about his responsibility to the community and also recognised his responsibility to the State, but on this particular issue the claims of God were in direct opposition to those of the State. He had no doubt as to where his first loyalty rested.

The Crown representative, Mr. C. O. Bell, pointed out to the appellant that his work was connected with tax collection, which was an important factor in financing the war effort, yet the appellant was prepared to continue this work, which he could have left at any time since the war began, but not to do anything else which would be helping the war.