REFUSAL TO SERVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24631, 12 June 1941, Page 6

REFUSAL TO SERVE

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 11. A recommendation by the Tramways Committee that the council should take into consideration the question of the dismissal of conscientious objectors to military service who refused to do any form of service, including attending to the wounded and ambulance work, was approved without discussion by the Wellington City Council to-night. The Mayor,. Mr T. C. A. Hislop. said that the matter had arisen from a particular case which was before the Tramways Committee of an employee, a conscientious objector, who refused to do any type of service. The feeling of the committee was that it should not, having due regard to the true conscientious objector, keep in the council’s employ at the public expense an objector who would do nothing for the public. This particular case. Mr Hislop said, had been before the Appeal Board, but there was no decision yet. From it. however, a question of policy arose. From his experience of true conscientious objectops in the last war, he had found that they were usually prepared to help in some way, an example being the work of the Members of the Society of Friends with the sick and ■wounded. On the other hand, there were those objectors who would do nothing but live at the expense and sacrifice of others. Should they continue to be employed at the public, expense?