RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16567, 16 June 1917, Page 6

RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS.

■ ♦ "I I A WAR-TIME QUAKER. J | : -tl I APPEALS FOR EXEMPTION. M * ii'/. : j An appeal for exemption on religions. : :5 1 grounds was made before the First Auck- jy§ 9 land Military Service Board yesterday ■; M by William F. Blanchard, farmer, Pae- '<M rata. Vik Appellant submitted a certificate signed T&; by a magistrate, exempting him on re- -,||| ligious grounds from service in the territorials. He stated that he was a mem- :J|| ber of the Society of Friends, but had t';j joined that body since the war com- t:*| menced. 5 The chairman said that to obtain •jjfj exemption under section 18 of the Act, '>M a reservist must have belonged to a re- "jlm ligious body before the war began. £ Appellant then claimed • exemption on the ground that he was engaged in farm- J|| ing. He was milking 17 cows and grew .j|P several acres of potatoes. He admitted fe; he had a brother of military age working . J||| with him who had not yet been called up" : i-k and who could look after the farm. - '3j|j Major Conlan said a circular issued by %4l the camp commandant explained that men, -J who did not come under section 18, but held sincere conscientious religious scruples. t to bearing arms, might, in approved cases, W, be posted to the Ambulance or Army .; Service Corps. The board dismissed tha'O; 1 appeal. ,;'|bj Eric Bampied, solicitor, Bayswater, fc| appealed on religious grounds, and also :ks; owing to the hardship his absence would .;};; entail on his aunt and uncle, who were $jjm dependent upon him. Appellant, who is ||§ a member of the Brethren sect, said h«s' r |f had two brothers on active service. ---pH The chairman said that the Brethren >||| was not a religious body under section 18 of the Act. Appellant added that he had lived 'I'M with his uncle and aunt since childhood, and his calling up would greatly upset'..--.'M-them. Appellant's employer wrote asking for an extension of leave for him for three months. •'• . Leave was granted until September 23, : SI