MILITARY SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24049, 21 August 1941, Page 8

MILITARY SERVICE

CONSCIENCE CASES DEALING WITH DEFAULTERS PROCEDURE FOLLOWED (S.R.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday "Regulations will be gazetted at an early date embodying the principles on which conscientious objectors are to be dealt with," said the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, when replying in the House of Representatives to-day to a question concerning two objectors to military service.' Mr. Nash said it had been decided that as a general rule a man who made default in reporting for medical examination, or despatch to camp, or in any other respect, would be prosecuted in the civil Courts for an offence against the National Service Emergency Regu. lations. If he was convicted and, sentenced to a term of imprisonment a military escort was detailed to attend at the prison on the termination of his sentence to conduct him to camp. The man was not placed under arrest unless he refused to obey the orders given to him. On arrival in camp he was dealt with in the same way as any other soldier who entered camp, but if he refused to obey commands he was prosecuted by court-martial under military law. This procedure had been followed in the cases mentioned. VOLUNTEER AND CONSCRIPT NO DISTINCTION OF ANY KIND (S.R.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday "The policy of compulsion for military service has the support of the people of this country, and the Government has made it clear that no distinction of any kind is or will be made between the volunteer and the man who has been called up for service," said the actingPrime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, in a written reply in the House of Representatives to-day to a question asked by Mr. F. L. Frost (Government—New Plymouth) concerning references made overseas to Canadian soldiers being "every man a volunteer." The Minister said it was not considered necessary for the New Zealand Government to endeavour to restrain other Governments in the British Empire from praising the systems adopted in those countries, and he was satisfied that the statements mentioned were not in any way intended as criticism of the systems in force in Britain and New Zealand. CONSCIENCE APPEALS REGULATIONS FOR BOARDS (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday A statement that armed forces appeal boards in dealing with appeals on the ground of conscientious objection were governed entirely by regulations, providing that the appellant must satisfy the board as to the genuineness of his belief, was made by the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, in a written reply in the House to-day to a question asked by Mr. J. A. Roy (Opposition —Clutha). The Minister added that the setting up of local committees to furnish confidential information to an appeal board regardi: conscientious objectors was considered neither practicable nor desirable. The decision of the board must be reached on the evidence adduced at the hearing.