SERVICE APPEALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24032, 1 August 1941, Page 5

SERVICE APPEALS

BOARD CRITICISED

CHAIRMAN'S REJOINDER

CASES DECIDED ON EVIDENCE

"The authorities of the Church are not satisfied with the way in which the board has met conscientious objectors as people who know them best have not bad their testimony accepted," said the Rev. •). D. Smith, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, to the No. 1 Armed forces Appeal Hoard yesterday when giving evidence on behalf of his son. Neil Gibson Smith, university student, who appealed against service on the ground of conscientious object i°u.

'"That is unfortunate," said the chairman, Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M.,

"but we do not allow you to criticise the decisions of the board. If you were allowed others might do it more disrespectfully. We have decided these cases on the evidence submitted and the onus is on the appellant to leave no doubt in our minds that be is genuine. "We Do Our Best" "In some cases you may disagree because you know a man's view better than we do," the chairman continued. "We do our best by asking many questions to find what is in a man's mind and some do not like it. It would be a very simple matter for us to sit here like graven images, listen to a statement and make up our mind without asking questions, but that ;vould not be fair on the appellant. To err is human, but we do our best to meet cases as they come along. However, we are a.sked to swallow a great ileal and some of the tilings we hear choko us." Witness said that conscientious objectors were put in a very invidious position if they were not given some form of service while others were sacrificing their lives. The chairman said regulations providing for alternative service for conscientious objectors after the board had granted their appeals would shortly be provided. However, it was difficult to imagine any form of alternative service which was equal to the sacrifice of the men at the front.

Decision in the case was reserved Two Appeals Dismissed

"I tlii 11 k you arul men like you should bo kepi, under restraint or locked up while ihe war is on," said a member of tho board, .Mr. A. M. Samuel, after hearing answers to questions given by Noel Mirroll Sly, aged 22, clerk, who appealed on the. ground of conscientious objection, staling he was a member of the Christian Pacifist Society. Appellant stated in reply to questions that ho debated pacifist matters iu a group and that lie favoured an open forum as a democratic institution. If an open forum were allowed it would be his duty to explain his views to territorials going into camp. "We are not convinced and the appeal is dismissed," said the chairman. •'You will take the consequences." Disagreement with the basis on which the war was run was expressed by Alfred Edward Noakes, hnt-blocker, who appealed on the ground of conscientious objection. Appellant said In? would approve of a just war and when the chairman said there was no provision under the regulations for political objection he suggested that provision on the lines given in England would he allowed.

"Yon had hotter write to Mr. Churchill about it," said-the chairman, in dismissing the appeal. STATUS OF SONS OF EIRE > SIX CASES ADJOURNED fBY ThXKGIi.U'H I'RKSS ASSOCIATION*] WELLINGTON, Thursday Six "sons of Eire" appealed to the Armed Forces Appeal Hoard to-dav for exemption from military service. The appeals were based on conscientious grounds, but were dismissed because their case was not covered by the regulations. The question of status was then raised, the appellants contending that because Eire was a neutral State they were in the same position as the subjects of any other neutral country, j The appeals were adjourned in order that certain points raised could be considered by the Crown. ORDERED FROM BOX FATHER OF AX APPELLANT [BY TKI.KGKAI'H J'RKSS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN, Thursday "Military authority stinks in my nostrils," shouted ( live Wilsden Maitland. aged '25. from the witness box at a' session of the Armed Korces Appeal Hoard. Describing himself as a student, he said he had been a lifelong opponent of military service. "What is your objection to serving in the military forces apart iroin the smell oi it asked Mr. .V. N. Haggitt, representing the Crown. "It is against my principles," replied the appellant. 11 is evidence was supported by his father, Ernest George Maitland. who gave a long account of the religious education bo bad given his children. "You are offensive in your attitude. I shall order you out of Court." said Mr. .1. li. Bartholomew, S.M., to Maitland, senior, at one stage. "You cannot expect people to be nice and polite if voti are taking their children away to teach them to murder," was the reply. Three times in the following three or four sentences the witness was rebuked for his impertinent remarks and altitude. Mr. Haggitt" asked witness if he was prepared to apologise to the Court, and witness in answer began another rambling statement. "Leave the box," (jninniaiided the Bench. The decision of the Court was resen ed.