MILITARY SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16268, 29 June 1916, Page 9

MILITARY SERVICE.

COUNCIL IN COMMITTEE.

| CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. QUAKERS MAY APPEAL. tBT TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Wednesday. The Legislative Council this afternoon went into Committee to consider the two new clauses of the Military Service Bill that yesterday were held over for further consideration. The Hon. J. T. Paul (Otago) moved an amendment to clause 18, which provides that a member of a religious body has the right of appeal when he regards the performance of military service as unlawful by reason of being contrary to divine revelation. He moved that the clause read as follows : "By reason of a conscientious objection to the undertaking of combatant service." He argued that it would be better to make a reasonable attempt to meet tho conscientious and religious objectors than to dragoon them into military service. The Hon. Sir Francis Bell said the amendment would mean that if a man thought England was wrongly at war he would have a right to decline to assist in the fight, and he could not think the Council would go as far as that. It would mean that it would not be for Parliament to decide, but for certain people. The Bill provided that a man must be a member of a religious body whose principles were opposed to the bearing of arms before he could claim objection. The test must be evidence of a religious conscience and the fact, of membership of a body with such convictions.

The Hon. W. Beehan (Auckland) said he thought it would be the better course to strike out the clause altogether. On division the amendment was lost by 19 votes to 3. Other Amendments Rejected. The Hon. G. Carson then moved to strike out the first 'part of the clause referring to membership of a religious body, leaving the claim for exemption to rest on religious belief alone. The Hon. Sir Francis Bell said the amendment, went altogether too far. It would be wrong to allow the point to rest on religious belief alone. The amendment was rejected on the voices. An amendment was then proposed to strike out the remainder o£ the clause, but it was negatived by 15 votes to 8. The Hon. Sir W. Hall-Jones moved, as an amendment, the following proviso to subclause 3: " Provided that in determining which is the sole surviving son the board shall, in the case of a widow, exclude from consideration any son who, being married and with a wife and children dependent upon him is liable to be enrolled in the second division." The Hon. Sir Francis Bell opposed the amendment, which was rejected on a division by 19 votes to 2. The clause was then passed. Performance of Alternative Service. A new clause. 54a, was added, providing that the naturo of the work, or service, required from persons exempted from | military service, and the rate, or rates, of j payment for such work or service, and the person or persons by whom such is to be directed, and all such other matters, shall be prescribed by regulations: also that every person exempted from military service who refuses or neglects to do such work or perform such service as shall be required of him or fails to do so with duo diligence shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months. Progress was then reported. The Council rose at 5.15 p.m.