DIVINITY STUDENTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 17 July 1929, Page 5

DIVINITY STUDENTS

j DEFENCE OBLIGATIONS. GOVERNMENT TO LEGISLATE. FACILITIES FOR EXEMPTION. (By Telegraph—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, July 16. The annmincemejit ol the Prime Minister, the lit. Hun. Sir Joseph Ward, that the Got eminent declines to interlere with the m agister ini decision in the case o-f the two Auckland divinity students convicted of a breach of the M ilitai v Service Act was greeted wiith gem oral "hear, hears" in the House, but criticism by way of interjection followed the further statement.

Sir Joseph announced that the Government proposed to' introduce legi,station wliit'll will enable all divinity gitu- . dents t<> secure exemption if they apply I fo r it. : “Or anybody elseb” suggested Mr • MoLoonibs (Lvttei ton). “No,” answered Sir Joseph ally--Vl'i- Harris (Waiteinata) : “It- will wreck the whole defence scheme.” The Prime Minister added that three religious bodies were already exempted, but the Presbyterian Church, to which these students belong, was not unanimous in regard to the law, but power should be given in : ! aw to all low divinity students studying to become ministers to have the opportunity of applying to the court for exemption from serving in a military capacity. Mr Nash (Palmerston North): “They have got the best of the deal at last.” Mr Parry (Auckland Cent nail) ; “You kept a respectable distance out of it.” Mr H. K. HoMand mentioned that one of the students (Milieu-) had his wages attacked to the extent of 15s per week. He wished to know whether this garnished order would continue. Sir Joseph Ward: “Whatever is the decision of the court must be settled "by the court. We cannot interfere with a. decision of the court.”

Mr Hot'-and : “Do you know that the boys father is dying and the boy is supporting his family ?”