"SAVING HIS OWN SKIN."

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 52

"SAVING HIS OWN SKIN."

DISCIPLE OF CARL MARX. AUCKLAND, September 23. "1 absolutely refuse to accept orders to parade and would rather die than go to campl" These words came as the climax to one of the most remarkable cases that have been heard by the Auckland First Military Service Board, and were spoken by Hugh R. Gray, farmer, of Great Barrier Island, who based an appeal on the ground of undue hardship. The appellant, who both' by written document and speeoh proclaimed himself a Marxian disciple, described himself as a "class conscious slave, at present working on a farm." Interrupting a flood of rhetoric, freely interspersed with quotations from appellant'* favourite author, the Chairman asked, "What are your real grounds of appeal? You talk so much it is very difficult to follow you." Appellant replied that he was assisting his brother in working of a farm of nearly 2000 acres. His brother had been classed as unfit and could not manage alone. An emphatic statement of his convictions followed, and appellant then turned the beacon light of his Marxian principles on to the subject of religion. He stated that in his opinion "there was no God save that perpetuated by capitalism for the purpose of keeping the people drugged." The Chairman (Mr Burgess, S.M.): Como now, I warn you. Have you any other legitimate grounds of appeal? Are your parents living?—Yea. Are you supporting them? —No, they are assisting me. J The Chairman: Well, what's your real ground of appeal? "Best grounds in the world," came the candid reply, "looking after my own skih ! Self-preservation is the first law of nature, vou know." Mr Burgess: The board will not think so. "We will see about that," replied appellant, who, having been warned to "reply to questions instead of asking them, gave a few moro details regarding his farm life. Good work had been done on the property, ho said, and he expected to do very well with it. Mr Elliott: I think you had better do away with it or you may find yourself becoming a capitalist. "Many a capitalist is a Socialist, but he daren't admit it," parried the appellant. Mr Pine: Moro the other way about. After listening to further discussion on religious and other points already covered, tho board dismissed the appeal, and instructed Gray to proceed to camp with the October draft. Appellant) who maintained an attitude of extreme defianco throughout*, deolai'ed his intention of doing nothing of tho kind.