PROVISION TO EXEMPT C.O.’s FROM N.Z. MILITARY SERVICE

Grey River Argus, 6 October 1949, Page 8

PROVISION TO EXEMPT C.O.’s FROM N.Z. MILITARY SERVICE

P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 5 The appointment of one Conscientious Objection Committee of the whole Dominion, to hear applications for registration as conscientious objectors, is provided for in an amendment made to the Military Training Bill by the Statutes Revision Committee, which reported the bill back to the House of Representatives to-day.

No limit on number of such committees was imposed by the original bill, and. this amendment is designed to bring about uniformity in the decisions relating to conscientious objectors.

Another amendment made by the Committee provides that any person liable for service under the Bill may, as a conscientious objector, notwithas a conscientious objector, nothwithstanding that he may have registered in the Military Service Register. Every such application shall be accepted, unless, in the opinion of the Director of Employment, there are no reasonable grounds for supposing that the applicant is a conscientious objector. If it is accepted the registration of an applicant in the Military (Service Register will be cancelled, and the case dealt with in accordance with the procedure for the hearing of applications by conscientious objectors. The original bill provided that such an application had to be made before a person became liable for his military service. The object of the amendment is to meet the case of a, person who enters camp and, subsequently, lias a change of faith, and becomes a conscientious objector.

The, scope of? the clausa in the bill relating to the review of cases by the Postponement Committee or by the Conscientious Objection Committee has been widened slightly. The original Bill provided that the Director of Employment could apply to such committees for the rehearing of any case if new and material evidence had been discovered. This implied that the additional evidence had to relate to something found subsequent to the first hearing, but the amendment permits of a more comprehensive interpretation by stating that a rehearing could be granted if new and material evidence was available.

The clause prohibiting the supply of liquor in the training camps has been rewritten. The amendment states that no person shall supply an intoxicating liquor to any trainee in any training camp, or to any trainee under the age of 21 years in any other naval, military or air force camp, station, or establishment. It also states that no person shall set up, or permit to be conducted any wet canteen in any training camp.