CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15275, 24 July 1920, Page 6

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

WELLINGTON, last night. The opinion recently expressed by \lajor-General Sir Andrew Russell regarding replies m connection with conscientious objectors having excited a good deal of discussion, he was approached and asked to make a further statement, cm the subject. Sir Andrew Russell explained that he made the statement m reply to a specific question which he answered, and undertook to make the answer public, which he had done. "I advocated the release of the conscientious objectors on The ground that imprisonment serves no usCfu.l"purpose," he said. "The vindictive eye-for-eye and tooth-for-a-tooth policy is out of date arid as a reformative measure ! t is ineffective. During war its necessity as a preventive punishment is imperious as a clear warning to others. On the restoration of peace such action, m my opinion, is no lonizer necessary. The' conscientious objectors m question win not he prflvcntrd, from similar action m future wars by further. punishment now Tin* true prevention for this abnormal view or a citizen's duly to his country is lo lie sought not. by n negative process of punishment but by a positive process inculcating and fostering a* true national spirit. There will always be found m f-vory community a few abnormal men who fail to realise that their conscion Mous objection m fact l s A form of selfishness m that it means that.someone else has to take the conscientious objectors place al the front. As to the d'sfranchiscinent of conscientious objectors who refuse obedience to any law with which they disagree, ihoy certainly cannot claim the right to make law s to ">e imoose-i hy others. I therefore take ihe view that unless they, make it perf<v.'ly clear that Ihey are prepared to obey the laws of the country they should not receive full civil rights, m the .meantime the continuation of. imprisonment of these mon involves expense to no purncse if my conclusions are correct- It must be understood; of course." concluded SiV Andrew Russell "that the views. I thus express- apply solely to genuine conscientious -objectors and not to shii'lwrs. Moreover. I wish to make it clear th.it what I have stated is purely my personal view."— Press Assn