STERN MEASURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24737, 14 October 1941, Page 8

STERN MEASURES

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS RETURNED SOLDIERS' REMIT LOSS OF ALL CIVIL RIGHTS In a series of remits forwarded for consideration at a special conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association at the end of this month, the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association has re-affirmed its previously announced opinion on the treatment which should be accorded to conscientious objectors. The following recommendations of the War Emergency Committee, were approved for submission to the conference:— <1) "That headquarters should be requested to press upon the Minister of National Service the necessity for publishing in the local press of each district, 14 days prior to each sitting of the Appeal Boards in such districts, the full occupations, names and addresses of appellants and the grounds on which the appeal is made. This would allow any person or body interested the opportunity of affording evidence in any particular case. Appeal Board's Decisions

(2) "The Appeal Board divides the appellants into three classes—(a) Genuine—and upheld by the Appeal Board. (b) Genuine but willing to give non-combatant service, (c) Not established. It is considered that appellants under Class (a) should promptly appear before the one man tribunal for the fixing of alternative service, and any penalties imposed by the conditions of service should be made retrospective to date of calling up. In the case of Class (b) appellants, the decision of the Appeal Board should stand and their non-combatant services should be immediately entered upon, the appropriate armed services' authorities to take the necessary action. The decision of the Appeal Board in Class (c) cases should stand and necessary action should be taken by the appropriate Armed Services' authorities. ■•;■', v (3) "That in all cases where appellants whose appeals on the grounds of undue hardship or in the public interest are adjourned sine to alternative service, for example, in the Territorial Forces,, Home Guard, etc.—that such service should be

rigidly enforced. Question of Employment

(4) "This council recommends that all persons deemed-to be genuine conscientious, objectors, if in Government or local body employment,, should immediately be dismissed from such employment and be debarred from Government and local body employment for all time, and that any alternative employment directed by the Minister of National Service should be at a rate not more than that of a private soldier. A list of all conscientious objectors within this category should be gazetted for the information and guidance of the Government and local bodies. AH such conscientious objectors should be deprived of their civil rights for all time, also any benefits they might obtain under the social security legislation. That where men refuse to report for non-combatant service in the armed forces their names should be gazetted as military defaulters, and that they should be subject to the penalties recommended above, in addition to any military penalties imposed. That where men fail to report when called up for service in the armed forces or non-com-batant service as directed they shall suffer the same penalties as those above. Finally, this council recommends that in all cases coming before the Armed Forces Appeal Board the local police should be asked to report and give evidence if necessary." Mr J: Mv' White said the one-man tribunals .were-jiot yet sitting,, and were nor to sit for some time. Consequently, nothing was being • done about the cases intended to come before the tribunals. Referring to appellants who were directed to serve with the Home Guard, Mr White said they might or might not attend regularly. " They are not very popular in the unit." he added..- ••>;.. > The remits as brought forward; were approved by the executive for submission to the New Zealand Association.