Military Defaulters Released on Parole

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 191, 14 August 1945, Page 3

Military Defaulters Released on Parole

Further releases of military defaulters on parole, were announced by Mr. W. H. Woodward S.M., No. 2 Revision Authority, in Palmerston North yesterday. The successful applicants wore:— Joseph George Billings, Auckland; William Victor Chamberlain, Christchurch; Percival Randle Gourlay, Palmerston North; Dudley Robert Mewa, Auckland; Bernard James Giles, Auckland; Alan Preston Graham, Auckland; Robert Melhuish Tidman, Auckland; Edward Samuel Draffin, Temuka; Percy Robert Meek, Wellington; John Herbert Henry Yalland, Auckland; Leslie O’Brien, Auckland. Tho following applications were refused:—Edward Ernest Miller, Chaneys (Canterbury); Michael Kowalewski, Stratford; Murrough O’Brien Bradshaw, Waiultu; Malcolm Douglas Scott, Auckland; William George Loach, Timaru; Eric Alex Gouldsbury, Dunedin; Harvey Imandt, Wellington, Colin Neill Henshaw, Nelson. Further applications were heard yesterday by Mr. Woodward S.M. George Frank Raymond Laws, of Tuakau, aged 22, electrical wireman, said •he was a member of the Christian Assemblies. Applicant presented testimonials and evidence as to his sincerity. The work and conduct report was * ‘good. ’ ’

Theodore Charles Nightingall, of Wellington, aged 31, a photographer, submitted humanitarian and economic grounds. His anti-war views he said he had held for many years and believed that until such times as people learned to cooperate in trade and commerce, there would always be wars. Tho peoples must discard their narrow, selfish outlooks. The only thing worthwhile fighting for was the destruction of national barriers. Applicant presented sincerity testimonials and called his mother to give evidence as to his upbringing which had been based on returning good for evil. She added that she had instructed her two sons never to take life if it came to protecting her from an invader. Applicant could not see that the liberation of Europe justified the war as the benefits gained were small compared with the vast amount of destruction dono and millions of lives lost. The conduct report was that up to a time it was bad but since applicant’s return to detention after his escape, he had behaved in quite a different manner and had cooperated well. His work was listed as “fair” but he had improved. * 1 Feeling as I do about war, detention and freedom of speech, I felt I had to oppose the system and the only way 1 could oppose it was tho way I did, ’ ’ said Nightingall, in reply.” “My conduct has improved and I have adopted a different attitude as my behaviour in the past accomplished nothing. However, it has not altered my outlook. ’ ’ Political Objector

Arthur Edward Alderton, of Auckland, waterside worker, aged 33, married, said his objections to war were political. Conscription had been introduced without a referendum of the people, tho war was being fought on a profit basis, and there had been no conscription of wealth. “I stand in a position similar to present members of Parliament who would not fight in the last war,” added Alderton. “Those are not questions for me but for the Government,” Mr. Woodward told Alderton. “My task is to discover whether you are sincere in your belief that you have done the right thing in not going to the war, just as the soldier is sincere in his belief that he has done the right thing by going.” Alderton: The State has a duty to the individual and should be prepared to give more than promises. Mr. Woodward: What do you ask the State to do? Alderton: They can make a world fit to live in. There are home to be built. There is no guarantee that the pension a soldier will get will be enough for him to live in. There are homes to be built. State raises loans. It does not conscript money but offers 3 per cent interest. Does that not mean that the men away fighting are making unearned income for those staying at home? Answering Mr. Fletcher, Crown representative, Alderton said ho would fight for the things he regarded as right but first he would try reasoning. He would also defend New Zealand if the

country were invaded. The work report was “fair.” The conduct report was given as “unsatisfactory” for a start but latterly “good.” “You don’t believe in turning the other cheek? You have been a bit defiant.” Alderton: I would say impatient. The detention authorities are quick to punish but desperately slow to bring about any improvement. Mr. Woodward said ho thought Aiderton was inclined to think there was no justice in the world. Alderton: I would not say that. The people as a whole aro not sufficiently civilised yet to live together in harmonious relations. Alderton said he had two brothers killed in the war and one just back. Thomas Smith, of Okaiawa, Taranaki, aged 38, farmer, said he did not appeal in the first instance but simply defaulted. He had been against war since he was 12 years of age, having discovered then the absence of human love in the world. He failed to see any justification for warfare. It was a strike in an English factory which started him thinking. “I belong to a Regimental family,” said Smith, “but I stand or fall by the Scriptures and not my family. There are some people who think the British Nation can do no wrong.” Smith added that he was a firm believer in the British Empire and righteousness exalteth a nation. He considered God had made a fool of Hitler after Dunkirk. Ho had offered to serve in the Mercantile Marino and had only one objection—to armed service. Conduct and work were “good.” Decisions were alj reserved. Gilbert Edwin Read, of Palmerston North, withdraw his application. IT WAS A COLD AND FROSTY NIGHT— Many a story starts like that, especially stories of colds when people have left a warm house. If you take cold j take Baxters Lung Preserver without i delay. “Baxters” and cotnmonsense (precautions will beat any ordinary (cold. “Baxters” quickly gives warm, ■ soothing relief, cuts phlegm. Children I love tho flavour. Baxters Ltd., CO2 j Colombo Street, Christchurch.