SERVICE IN WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23487, 26 October 1939, Page 13

SERVICE IN WAR

CONSCIENCE QUESTION CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES BAPTIST PRESIDENT'S VIEWS [BY TELECIiAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, "Wednesday 'I he position of tho conscientious objector in New Zealand should conscription be enforced was mentioned „by the president-elect of the Baptist Union of New Zealand and the Baptist Missionary Society, the Hev. C. W. Duncumb, in his address at tho annual conference to-night. He described it as a difficult matter, bound to affect the Church seriously in wartime. "European Baptists were foremost in declaration and sacrifice for freedom of consciences as touching spiritual tilings," said Mr. Duncumb. "The genuine conscientious objector has a real claim upon our sympathy, even though we may not appreciate his views. His position is one of grave peril. Ho can so easily bo misunderstood. Leaders of great ideals frequently are. "The conscientious objector, on the other hand, must not misunderstand his fellow citizen if ho fails to apply New Testament teaching which our Lord or His apostles obviously meant as relating to the extension of His Church or His spiritual kingdom to the defence of his hearth and home, and his freedom to live in accordance with the accepted principles of democracy and civilisation, which is the menace Nazism holds over tho world. "Wliilo demanding for the conscientious objector respect and reasonable consideration," added Mr. Duncumb, "those who feel that they aro engaged in a life and death struggle for humanity have a right to expect from tho conscientious objector an attitude of sympathetic helpfulness and certainly not obstructive tactics." "The Church in war or in peace must declare with no apologetic voice that a nation's strength lies not in its armed forces, warships or aeroplanes, but in tho character of its people, their attitude toward God and His statutes," continued Mr. Duncumb. "The Church must educate the people to understand that to violate God's commands is to betray not only their own, but their country's interests."

DEBT TO SEAMEN

SIIEEPOWNERS' FUND TOTAL EXPENDED £163,578 WORK IN THE PRESENT WAR [nr telegraiti—r it ess association] WELLINGTON. Wednesday The annual meeting of the New Zealand Shecpowncrs' Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen's Fund resolved that, in accordance with the wishes of tho Minister of Internal Affairs, tho Kon. W. E. Parry, the trustees of tho fund agree to act in tho present war as a patriotic body for the benefit of British seamen of tho navy and mercantile marine, as they did in tho last war, and also to act as tho authorised agent of tho national fund. It was further stated that the funds would be used to assist Flock House volunteers at the conclusion of their services with the New Zealand forces.

The annual report stated that grants were made by way of relief to disabled sailors and their dependants to the extent of £6238 during the period. The sum of £5142 was spent in the care and settlement of child dependants. Since the commencement of the operations of the fund in 192], a total of £103,578 had been expended under the scheme.

The chairman of the board of trustees, Air. E. Newman, said that the trustees intended that grants to beneficiaries should be permanent and continue as long as the beneficiaries lived. For that purpose, £IOO,OOO had been set aside to purchase permanent pensions to cover the amount of the grants. These would be purchased when conditions allowed the transfer of capital overseas.

•'What service thi? fund can give in this present emergency will he given," Mr. Newman said. "Tho moneys on hand must be used as subscribed for tho men and women and children who suffered during the war of 1914-18, but doubtless money will be provided for this or some other fund to grant relief and help to the dependants of British seamen whose lives will be given, and have already been given, to keep the seas open for us." JOINING THE FORCES

NOT AN EASY MATTER TECHNICAL MEN'S CHANCE [from oun own coit respondent] LONDON, Sent. 20 One of the most difficult things, it appears at tho moment, is to join either of the three forces for the duration of the war. Regrets at refusal are heard daily, and there arc cases of men who have endeavoured to enlist first in the Navy, then in the Air Force, and finally in the Army, without success. Men chiefly in demand at the present time are those with special qualifications. Few are being accepted. All the non-technical branches of the fighting services are full up for the time being. Recruits are still being accepted for long-service engagements, but volunteers without technical qualifications j who want to serve for the period of i the war only cannot be taken yet. The Army is calling up another 20,000 militiamen duo for military training and cannot take any volunteers other than the following special classes:—Tradesmen for tho Royal Engineers, the Koyal Army Service Corps, the Royal Army Medical Corps and tho Royal Army Ordnance Corps; motor drivers with licences for the Royal Army Service Corps and the Royal Engineers. I he Navy wants air fitters, engineroom electrical and ordnance artificers, blacksmiths, shipwrights and joiners, sick bay attendants, X-ray assistants, masseurs and laboratory assistants. 'J lie Royal Air Force will tako riggers and fitters, balloon operators for splicing and rigging, heavy lorry drivers, and young men with school certificates for training as air crews.