THE 'CONCHIES"

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 198, 21 August 1920, Page 3

THE 'CONCHIES"

A BAND OF EXILES

THEIR DISABILITIES IN THE

DOMINION

The question is frequently asked by the man in the street, "What is happening to the conscientious objectors?"

As far as the military authorities are concerned (the N.Z. Times explains), there are no means of discriminating between tho conscientious objector and other military defaulters. The names of those who have- been imprisoned, and those for whom warrants are still outstanding —the latter are fairly numerous— appear on the defaulter's list, but an exception has been mad© in the case of these, men who were able to prove to the satisfaction-, of the Minister for Defence that their offences were due to bona fid© religious objections to military service. These have suffered no loss of civil rights. BARRED FOR TEN YEARS. The military defaulter who was not in New Zealand on the passing of the Expeditionary Force Amendment Act, on December 10th, 1918, cannot lawfully return at any time Avithin ten years of that date. If found in the country he may bo arrested by any constable without warrant, and be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for any term not exceeding twelve months. .All military defaulters are deprived of civil rights for a period of ten years from the same date; every man so deprived is by law incapable- of being appointed, or continuing to hold any office or employment in the service of the Crown. NO POLITICAL OR CIVIL RIGHTS. He is also unablei to be appointed to hold office as a member of Parliament, to be enrolled as an elector, or to vote at a poll for the election of a member of Parliament. Any man who attempts to exercise any of these privileges from .which he is disqualified is liable up to twelve months' imprisonment. As a precaution against the return of these exiles, and to prevent them from landing in the Dominion, scrutiny is made of the passenger lists of all overseas vessels.