REFUSE TO SERVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24202, 18 February 1942, Page 6

REFUSE TO SERVE

MEDICAL STUDENTS SOME CASES AT OTAGO INVESTIGATION BY UNIVERSITY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN, Tuesday The problem of "certain medical students who have refused service, not only in the Medical Corps, but in the medical branch of the Emergency Precautions Service," was the subject of a report by the Medical Faculty of the University of Otago to the meeting of the council of the university, and of a brief. discussion by members. A report submitted by the Dean of the Faculty, Dr. C. E. Hercus, expressed the "grave displeasure" with which the faculty regarded the actions of these students, and suggested that students holding such views should not in future be included in those selected for admission to second-year classes. When it was proposed that the question. should be referred for investigation to the finance and medical committee, the chairman of the committee, Mr. James Wallace, said the committee would require definite information of the number and names of students who had expressed conscientious objection, or had appeared before the manpower committee on these grounds. The question was referred to this committee, and tlie registrar was instructed to obtain the necessary information.' "Conscientious objectors who are not prepared to give service to humanity by working in an ambulance unit or in some other way," the chancellor, Mr." W. J. Morrell, said, "have very little claim to be accepted into the university, particularly when there is a limitation on the number of students." A letter from the Dunedin branch of the Fellowship of Conscientious Objectors Was before the council, asking it to make its views on the question of conscientious objection to military service known to the Government and the press.

The chancellor remarked that it was not the function' of ths council to express opinions on such general subjects. Members of the council agreed unanimously, and the letter was received.