OVERSEAS SERVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 24 October 1941, Page 4

OVERSEAS SERVICE

APPEALS BY STUDENT TEACHERS INVESTIGATION SOUGHT Christchurch, Oct. 22. A decision to recommend that the circumstances of two student teachers ' who appealed against overseas service I as conscientious objectors should be investigated by the recently appointed special tribunal, was made by the . Armed Forces Appeal Board at its sitting to-day. The hoard allowed the ap- : peals, which were made by brothers, Harold Garfield Anderson and Noble Dana Anderson. Evidence tendered to the board and corroborative evidence that had been , filed, show that these two young men had been born and bred conscientious 1 objectors, and reared as such, said the ! chairman. Mr F. F. Reid, S.M. "The board,” lie added, "is prepared to con- [ cede the genuineness of their appeals and to allow them, but their demeanour was such as to suggest that neither • appears to have any sense of his rel sponsibilities as a citizen of the community. The board, therefore, takes ! the exceptional course of recommend--1 ing that their circumstances be in- ! quired into by the recently-appointed | special tribunal at the earliest possible opportunity with a view to determining i whether suitable alternative employmen cannot be found for them immedi- ! ately." Harold Garfield Anderson said three members of his family had appealed 1 against military service on conscientious grounds in the last war and all the appeals had been allowed. His father was a United States citizen and had appealed in that country. He had i held his views all his life and when ! at secondary school had refused to do military drill. Questioned by the chairman. Anderson said he still held the view lie had previously expressed to the board that nothing should be done to protect woi men and children from wounding or j destruction. If children under his care were wounded by bombing he would i aid them medically. He had very little fir-t aid experience. The chairman: You arc quite prepared to be educated and trained at ] the country’s expense and do nothing : whatever to help it? Appellant: Except in a civil capacity. Noble Dana Anderson, who explained that he shared his brother’s views, i added that if everybody shared his ' views there would not be any war. He . was not there to say how it could be stopped He knew that if he were in i Germany and refused military service he would be put in a concentration | camp bui this was a free country, he hoped, where he was free to speak’ "I know what would happen to me j under Hitler, but because I come here in a free country I am looked upon as a criminal, a coward and a slacker.” 1 ."aid Anderson. He added that he would do anything in a civil capacity, but nothing under military control.—PA.