OBJECTION TO WAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 June 1941, Page 2

OBJECTION TO WAR

WRITER OF SACRED MUSIC “You would be a huge success in the army; any man with the capacity to write music like you have produced would probably not need to fight at all I —you would be a success socially and | otherwise,” said Mr Stilwell, S.M., ’ chairman of the No. 4 Armed Forces Appeal Board, to Alan Heathcote i White, civil servant, whose appeal on conscientious grounds was heard in Wellington yesterday. He also appealed on hardship grounds, saying he was married and had mortgage commitments. He had done his territorial training in the medical corps. In addii tion to Mr Stilwell the board com- | prised Messrs A. Parlane and J. W. G. • j Brodie. j Appellant produced copies of his I psalms and religious music as evidence | of his long interest in peace. Mr Stilwell said that he supposed 90 per cent of the people of New Zealand were lovers of peace and opposed to war as such. That did not mean they would not bear arms where the circumstances were such that they were in duty bound to serve their country. This was the way a lot of young fellows looked at it, though they had a . natural aversion to war. i Appellant said he left New Zealand > i in 1936 for England and Palestine, in- . j tending to do mission work. The sud- ! den death of his father compelled his ! return. He again went to England in ? 1938 to study for the Anglican minis- ■: try but financial reasons obliged him to [ I return. He had written several hunJ dred sacred songs dhd psalms and the oratorio “The Triumph of Christ,” and on Coronation night, 1937, his work, “Arise O Britain to Truth and Right- ‘ eousness” was broadcast on all YA 5 stations. He had two letters from the late Prime Minister regarding his sacred music and interest in peace organisations. He would do non-combatant service. He had not been accepted for the ministry because he was a student I of prophecy. Appellant said he honest]/ believed • that there would soon be Divine intere vention in the v ar, specially with the s Palestine issue. He would do non - II combatant service. Mr Stilwell remarked ih one lete ter of introduction for appellant over- *’ seas described him as something of a New Zealand Bach. The appeal was dismissed. The j I chairman told appellant that he coulc » ! apply for posting to the same branch ;t : of the army as that in which he had xjdone his territorial service—the medv leal corps.