COURAGEOUS C.O.

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1927, Page 4

COURAGEOUS C.O.

PRESBYTERIAN STUDENT. Refuses Military Service. PRESBYTERY IN TIGHT CORNER. fPer Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, June 14. The Auckland Presbytery was called upon at its meeting to-day to declare its attitude on the debateable question of compulsory military training. After a discussion, which was carried over from the afternoon to the evening session, the Presbytery adopted a resolution expressing the view that a change from tl'.'* Compulsory tv Voluntary Military training should be brought about by pressure of public opinion, and not by a refusal to obey the law. The question, was raised by a letter from Mr A. Al. Richards, a student for the ministry, who has come in conflict with the law by refusing to undergo military training. “As one of your students.” Air Richards wrote, “L am writing to inform you that 1 am cited to appear in the Alagist rate’s Court to-morrow, June 15, owing to my refusal to take part in preparations for war. I have been largely influenced in making this refusal by Ihe utterances of several of yourselves, and especially by the Assembly’s resolution on tin* matter. If, as the Church, has declared, military training is wrong in principle, it is obviously wrdng to take any part in such trainThe writer went on to say that he intended basing his plea on the Assembly’s resolution, and he asked for a statement from the Presbytery of its attitude to war un i to preparations for war. Rev C. Herron submitted the following resolution: “While admiring Air Richards's courage, ami while sympathising with his desire to witness his conscientious protest against compulsory preparation for war. the Presbytery believes that the mind of our Church, as expressed in the resolution advocating a return to the voluntary system of military training, passed by the last General Assembly, is that this reform should be brought about by thc pressure of public opinion causing our legislators to alter the law in

this way, so as to bring our country more into line with the spirit of the League cf Nations, and not by a refusal to obey the law while it continues Vi exist.” Rev. B. Hitson said Mr Richards had learned only that afternoon that the Assembly’s resolution did not cover his case. It was open to him to tell the Court he had misunderstood the attitude of his Church, and then the case would drop. Rev. Air Richards said he believed that there was a conscience Clause in the Act, which his son could plead. Tim question was then raised whether Air Richards had committed any breach of the Act. Mr Richards was given permission to explain his position further. Air Richards said he could not leave his Church out of it, because he was bound to be asked about his religious convictions. He still felt that the Assembly's resolution, if carried out to its logical conclusion, did support his attitude, because it condemned compulsory military training. . He took this step to arouse public opinion on the matter, and that was the only reason he took it. The motion was carried without dis".seut.