The Case of the Military Defaulter

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 157, 5 July 1945, Page 7

The Case of the Military Defaulter

Further applications for release from detention on parole, from military defaulters, came before Mr. W. H. Woodward S.M., No. 2 Revision Authority, in Palmerston North yesterday. John Finlay Duff, of Lower Hutt, indent and land agent, aged 41, married with two children, said he was in fellowship with the Christian Assemblies. It was nine years ago when they lost a son 6 years of age, that he first began seriously thinking of the life after death and God. He went to several meetings of the Assemblies out of curiosity but he found himself drawn back to them and finally he found a desire in his life to have complete fellowship with God. It would be going against the will of God to take part in warfare either actively or indirectly. Appellant produced testimonials of sincerity. W. J. Hughes, senior minister in New Zealand for the Assemblies, gave evidence in support of the application, saying Duff's attitude to war was sincere and as a member of the Assemblies, couldn't very well be otherwise. Answering Mr. Woodward, Duf£ said he would not like to use any physical gift as a means of attracting others to Christ. Undoubtedly the men who had gone overseas had believed it their duty to go and they should be honoured for it and also helped. He would not hesitate to contribute to any rehabilitation fund were it set up. The conduct and work reports were ‘* excellent.'' Decision was reserved. Rex Verdun Boyes, of Wellington, accountant, aged 29 and married, commenced with his grandparents to show the Christian influences under which he had been brought up. He had broken away from the churches at the time the war broke out and the question of whether such an act was a display of intolerance on his part, had exercised his mind since. Appellant produced books which had been presented to him by church organisations, to confirm his earlier associations with religious bodies. Christianity necessitated pacifism, he said. Boyes submitted testimonials of sincerity numbering 18. “They are fairly numerous,'' commented Mr. Woodward. Boyes: I wanted to cover every aspect of my life. Answering Mr. Duffy, appellant said his wife was also a pacifist. To His Worship Boyes said he married in July 1940 and was called up in October 1940. Mr. Woodward: And you wrote expressing the opinion that being married put you into another category. Boyes: I may have, but my marriage had not been arranged to evade my service. We married so that wo could have as long as possible together before I was taken to detention. His Worship: You also appealed on the ground of public interest. I can't understand a man taking up an alternative appeal if he had been asked to commit a deadly sin. His conscien tious appeal should be sufficient. Boyes: So do I. The public interest appeal was against Territorial service and the conscientious appeal against overseas service, but I did not proceed with the Territorial appeal. Appellant said he would like very much to help the suffering peoples of Europe but couldn’t do it in uniform. Mr. Woodward: Even though the Army in Europe is not now fighting? Boyes: It is still the Army which represents something to which I am opposed. The work and conduct report was “excellent.” Mr. Duffy added that throughout his detention period Boyes had been in a position to work very c-losely with the administration to •which he had given loyalty and at the same time he had not been disio.yal to his fellow inmates. Boyes had been able to keep the balance and in the camp had the wholesome respect of every member of the staff and community, which was a very difficult thing to do. Decision was reserved. Cyril Ivan McNeill, shop assistant, of Christchurch, 32 years of ago and married with four children, pleaded that he had been brought up to regard war as wrong. He had passed through the perience of conversion after attending the Apostolic Church. McNeill quoted from the Bible in support of his views that love should rule the world.

Mr. Woodward suggested to appellant that it would be easy for a man with a wife and four children whom he loved to seek sanctuary in a detention camp, but McNeill denied that he had done that. His love of God must transcend that for his wife and children.

Mr. Woodward: Ifon't you find that a hard doctrine?

Appellant: He gave them to me in the first place and is well able to look after them.

McNeill claimed that had God condoned participation in the war as a noncombatant he would have said so.

Appellant produced sincerity testimonials and called Pastor G. D. White

to give evidence that the Apostolic Church was definitely against war and would not defend a man in the Revision Court if it was thought he were mot conscientious. Pastor White said it was left to the individual to choose whether he should light or not, and many of their members had gone overseas with the church's blessing. McNeill said ho had two brothers whose appeals had been allowed, lie agreed with Mr. J. A. DUffy that he and his family were just as well off financially as before he went to detention. At that time he was getting £6 10s a week. Since going to detention the position was as follows:—Social -Security £2 Iss, charity from the Hospital Board 13s 6d, contribution to rent from Child Welfare Department £l, allotment 5s lOd, his own cost of living provided free in camp (clothing, shelter and food) £2, total £6 14s 4d (net). “Very good” was the conduct and work report but earlier there had been a‘ ‘ fair'' report only. Mr. Woodward: Don't you give full measure and over? McNeill: In detention I have tried to do what has been asked of me. I believe the good measure of flowing over is what God gives us. Mr. Woodward: Perhaps I am wrong but I thought the Christian teaching said give full measure to your fellows. Mr. Duffy: Perhaps now that McNeill knows he is getting over £6 10s a week he will try to earn it. Mr. Woodward: It always affects me very favourably when a man gives without counting the cost. Decision was roserved. John ' Hull Adams, of Eastbourne, aged 27, a warehouseman, married with one child, said he belonged to the Brethren and had been publicly baptised nine or 10 years ago. He had alwaj-s been in opposition to war. It was true that during a lapse he had tried to join the New Zealand .Scottish Regiment but fortunately he had realised in time what he was doing and pulled out. “1 am saved,” declared Adams. “I am savoa for eternity and if I go to war I am lost.” At this stage the court adjouured till 10 a.m. to-day.