MILITARY TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 9

MILITARY TRAINING.

— <» CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. QUESTION OF SERVICE. LOCAL BODIES' VIEWS. [bt ittECßArn- srEciAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wfm.ixgtov, Thursday. As intort'.stir..: paper relating to the cation of alternative service for religious nini c<msfientioiw objectors to military traininj: was laid on the table of tie House today ''>' the Minister for Defence, the Hon. J- Allen. The paper contains „ summary .-i die replies to the circular ..,., i by the Minister in March last to local bodies in the Dominion asking for suggestions •'" die !|u<'s!:on.

The Kvnl I--lies were Invited in the c-il.ir lo in.i'k,. suggestions as to the nil lire of w.-sk that would be most suitable for oirr.-.or*. .""ill also whether they would pr<-•■'•!«' ""i'!< and assist in the adrriniMr.it i "■ The return shows that 32 1,-,-.,: li-flies :oi«;u.|.-d replies to the effect thai they »■:•• ,n favour of alternative servi-o (or n ! .; .n* and conscientious objectors. 0: ■ ii»ly, the Bay of Islands County C>un. t.;.i.t«>d that it was not in favour of exempt-ion on conscientious pounds. Several bodies did not reply "Yes" or "No," and whilst some of th«*» made i..■ommendationo others had no suirce?! "•' s to offer. Amongst the suggested method of employing the objectors are quarrying and roadworks, cmkit-g and fatigue duty at camps. tow r, inning, beautifying schemes, afforestation, 'ladic.uion of noxious weeds. and ambulance work. The Hoi*.- County Council expresses the opinion that "no exemptions should be allowed to conscientious objector " whilst the West land Council thinks that "objectors should be deported or lose their civil r-h-?, or be put in gaol." The Mofijiel Borough Council suggests that the objectors " should not be eligible for any position :'u '.ho civil service or allowed to take pat! in land ballots and should be disfT»nch;>eil." The Waitemata County leiijiders that "no objections should be allowed The Coronmandel County recommend* that the objectors should be employed in "cooking or general rouse»(»>iii work."

in the - >nrs* of a discussion which followed th* presentation of the. return Mr. A. M. Myers (Auckland East,) said that ho had very little sympathy with any man who had conscientious scruples in regad to military training. (Hear, hear.) it was quite clear that these objectors were now very s la.d to have the benefit of military protection. (Hearty hear, hears.) Mr. Payne (Grey Lynn): Why are you not at the front?

.Mr. Myers : I have been doing my duty here, but I would be glad to go to tie front to ■morrow if occasion arose. He added that ho hoped that the time tn*s past when they would have to recognise the conscientious objectors at all. He fully sympathised with religious objectors, but what was now happening should remove the possibility of conscientious objectors being countenanced in the future.

Mr. Allen said that under the cirenmtt;wifes that had arisen lately he did not th nl< it would bo necessary to do anytii nc. There were now mighty few conKvnti 'lis objectors in New Zealand. He thought it would be very difficult to find cm. Then might bo somti religious objectors.