MILITARY SERVICE OBJECTORS

Southland Times, Issue 24680, 27 February 1942, Page 4

MILITARY SERVICE OBJECTORS

NON-COMBATANT DUTIES DEFINED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb.‘26. A statement by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, tonight, deals with the position of men whose appeals on conscientious grounds have been dismissed subject to their employment only in non-combatant duties. “Apparently the obligations and rights of such men are not clearly understood,” said the Minister. “The National Service Emergency Regulations 1940 provide that when an Armed Forces Appeal Board dismisses an appeal with the condition that the appellant shall be employed only in non-combatant duties, it is the duty of the Naval Board, the Army Board and the Air Board to ensure that he shall, while serving with the armed forces, be required to serve only in non-combatant duties of such a nature as the Minister of Defence directs.

“Pursuant to this provision I have directed that the nature of non-combat-ant duties to be performed by an appellant shall be service in the Medical Corps or Dental Corps in duties not involving the carrying or use of arms; for example, clerical or camp fatigue duties. Therefore, if they are medically fit these men are required to enter camp for non-combatant service of the nature referred to above, and if they fail or refuse to report or perform such service they are liable to the prescribed penalties.”