MILITARY TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20332, 13 August 1929, Page 10

MILITARY TRAINING.

THE RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE

WAIKATO PRESBYTERY'S VIEWS

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COnUESrONIIENT.]

HAMILTON, Monday. Tho Presbytery of Waikato has carried tho following motion in connection with military training:—

"That the Presbytery supports the assembly's Public Questions Committee in asking for an assurance from tho Prime Minister that the declaration of tho Minister of Justico regarding no discrimination between tho denominations of conscientious objectors and the early gazetting of alternative scrvico prescribed by tho Governor-General-in-Council shall be confirmed.

"That the Presbytery urges that, the Prime Minister's proposal to exempt divinity students should be extended to all persons whoso conscientious objections to military service are certified by trustworthy witnesses with due regard to tho obligation to render alternative non-mili-tary service as prescribed by tho Gover-iior-in-Council. ~

"Tho I'rcsbytcry, while appreciating the Prime Minister's desire to meet tho situation, repudiates tho suggestion that students for the ministry should rcceivo preferential treatment over other young men who may claim exemption on tho grounds of conscience. "Tho Presbytery points out tho injustice of allowing the present heavy sentence to lie upon Richards and Miller, while the justice of exempting sucli objectors is at the same timo acknowledged by tho Prime Minister.. Tho Presbytery therefore rospectfully requests tho Prime Minister to take tho necessary steps with rcfercnco to the remission of tho sentences. "That following tho resolution of tho General Assembly, this Presbytery affirms its conviction that the time has now como when tho Compulsory Training Act should bo repealed."