DEFAULTERS’ CAMP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 17 February 1942, Page 4

DEFAULTERS’ CAMP

GOVERNMENT’S IN TE N TlO N S Christchurch, Feb. 16. "It 11(ji the intention of the Government to brutalise these men. as

eminent to brutalise mese men. as some people would like us to do. nor' j.- it on the other hand the intention < f the Government to pamper them.” 1 declare ', the Minister of National Service. Mr Semple, in a statement concerning the military defaulters' camps. I Up to the present nearly 200 men have been placed in detention, said 1 the Minister. They were detained I virtually as prisoners for an indeter-! ir.inate period. It was the policy of: the Government to treat them separately from ordinary prisoners; as many! •• ere under 21 years of age. it was not 1 desirable that they should associate, with persons committed for serious criminal offences. Ideas that these men who had re- j fused to serve their country were living in indolent lutury and any work, they were to perform was purely ! optional on their part were grossly untrue. as were suggestions that they were given special privileges. “These men are being detained under very rigid regulations. They have lost tl.eir liberty for the duration of the v ar. and are required to work hard and lona hours on what is to many unaccustomed manual labour and for ino pay and with no leave whatever.” Allegations about their being provided ' with a wet canteen, hot-water bottles, I fireplaces in their huts. better meals ! than the soldiers, fruit irrespective 1 of cost, rise of the baths and taxis in Rotorua, freedom to leave camp at rnght and have visitors at the weekends by the score had not the slightest foundation in fact. “I leave it to the judgment of fairminded citizens.” concluded Mr Semple, “whether it is not better from ; the country’s point of view and from the point of view of the inmates them- . selves to give these men good and ; useful work to do, creating assets for the Dominion, than to cast them into prison where they will be compelled j to mix with all types of criminals and ! render little or no service to the nation, and probably finish their sentences with an embittered outlook. Ii 1 is far better to try by reasonable and ! l indly methods to convince them that they are travelling the wrong road, ar.d impress on them that it is their j duty to help to protect and preserve not 'only the liberty of the present generaj tion but that of generations tc come, jTo a degree the method we have adopted is meeting with some success.” —P.A. COUNTY COUNCIL VIEW Napier, Feb. )6. The Hawkes Bay County Council j decided to request the Government to repeal clause 21 of the Military Serv cc Act so that all conscientious objectors. whether their appeals are dis- i missed or not. should be sent to a de- 1 R niters’ camp. One councillor said that if a re- ' servist could square his appeal with the Act he was exempted from service I and henceforth wore a smug smile of | satisfaction al having gained his freeoom. All conscientious objectors should be sent to a defaulters’ camp. "Or to gaol." said another councillor. P.A. "