TREATMENT OF OBJECTORS

Southland Times, Issue 24576, 27 October 1941, Page 6

TREATMENT OF OBJECTORS

BASIC RATE OF PAY TO BE DETERMINED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 25. The intention of the National Service Emergency Regulations is that appellants shall be in no better financial position than if they were serving as members of the armed forces irrespective of what they may be earning in their present occupations, stated the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, in a statement on the function of the special tribunal which will shortly begin its sittings. The Minister said it would be necessary to determine a basic rate which would represent the equivalent of pay. keep, clothing, medical and dental attention which a member of the armed forces would receive. In order to obtain this uniformity, this basic rate and the general principles to be applied in the making of orders would be determined by the special tribunal before the sittings began. In addition to the army pay of 7/- a day received by privates, allowances are made for their dependants and the Minister said, similar allowances would be made to successful appellants. It was also not intended to deviate in the case of conscientious objectors from the principle of paying allowances to the wife and children of a member of the armed forces irrespective of whether he was married before he became a member of the armed forces or at any time subsequently. WORK OF TRIBUNAL Mr Semple said the special tribunal would investigate the financial position of appellants and inquire into the salary, wages or income they were earning. If the earned income of an appellant was greater than the basic rate so fixed together with any allowances he would have received as a member of the armed forces, he would be ordered to pay the excess to the credit of the Social Security Fund. If the appellant’s earnings were less than the basic rate and the allowances no financial order would be made in this case, and he would certainly not receive any subsidy for any deficiency. A person whose appeal has been dismissed unconditionally will not be dealt with by the special tribunal. Any order made in respect of an appellant whose appeal has been dismissed subject to noncombatant service will not interfere with the right of the military authorities to post such a person for non-combatant duties. In either case failure to report for duty when directed to do so constitutes an offence, making such persons liable to prosecution as defaulters. In lieu of, or in addition to, other lawful penalties, the defaulter may on conviction be committed to defaulters’ detention for the duration of the wan

Mi- Semple added that if any appellant failed to comply with the order of the tribunal there was adequate power under the regulations to deal with him as a defaulter.