WAR OBJECTORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23603, 12 March 1940, Page 4

WAR OBJECTORS

SERVICE EXEMPTIONS LADY ASTOR'S PROTEST WORK OF COURTS IN ENGLAND " [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPOND!:*-!'! LONDON, Feb. 23 Conscientious objectors wore denounced in the House of Commons by Lady Astor. "If they won't, fight." she said, "they should be put on various jobs, and darn disagreeable johs." The discussion took place after Sir John Anderson, the Home Secretary, had told members that the activities of the Peace Pledge Union were being carefully watched. The question of whether special measures were called for was being kept in view. Lady Astor said: "There are spirit-ually-minded conscientious objectors who willingly go on non-combatant service. I think they should have the greatest consideration. But I do not think that political conscientious objectors, who are waiting to choose their own war, should get off scot-free while our young men are going out to die for their country.

Let off to Make Money "I think the country will be annoyed if you let people off to do whatever they like and make money while we are pouring out thousands of young men who are all conscientious objectors against war. Ido not know a single | soldier, sailor, or airman who wants to \ go to war. j "We are letting people off who do not care about the war arid who do not care about our form of civilisation, while our own sons go out and risk their lives. You won't get the women of the I country to agree to that." Handling of Cases | -Mr. Brown, Minister of Labour, said | that all the evidence went to prove I that the handling of the conscientious ! objector problem in this war was | immeasurably superior to its handling | in the last war. | Lack of uniformity in the decisions . | of the various tribunals was not as.great as might appear. Seven of the largest ) tribunals in the country had given between 11 and 18 per cent uncondi- i tional exemptions. Three had given J more than 20 per cent and five less than 8 per cent, Up to January 31 the hardship committees had considered 13,052 cases, granting postponement in 7666 and refusing it in 5386 cases. There was no reason why the appellate tribunal should not, if the members so determined, as a greater convenience, meet elsewhere than in London. Some 283 appeals had been made so far —67 bv applicants and 216 on ; behalf of the "Ministry. Up to February | 15 in the judgments given—which were \ 50 —the umpire granted postponement ; in 33 cases and refused in 17. The majority of appeals made by the ~ Minister were on - behalf of the applicant He had come to the conclusion that the old, well-established atmosphere of the original Court of Referees now applied to the hardship tribunals was ■working well and the Government saw no reason to change it.