MILITARY SERVICE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 74, 25 February 1918, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE.

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

DEFENCE MINISTER’S REPLY TO CRITICISM.

Per Press Association

Wellington, February 2o

In a statement to the Press, the Minister of Defence enters upon a lengthy vindication of the Department’s treatment of anti-militarists. He corrects the impression general in the public mind that all objectors are “Conscientious” objectors, and points out that die only objectors recognised by law is “Religious Objectors” whose appeal would be allowed if he could prove that in August he was a member of a religious body whose doctrines declare that the bearing of arms and the performance of combatant service' are contrary to divine revelation.

After explaining and justifying the treatment of objectors sent abroad, the Minister, in concluding the question of the treatment of, anti-mili-tarists, presents a clear-cut issue, for the people of this country to consider (a) “Whether the laws solemnly and deliberately enacted by Parliament are to he obeyed; or, (b) “Whether defiance of the law is to be permitted, and those persons who know no rule but their own inclinations are to be practically exempt from military service, while those citizens and the sons of citizens who recognise and obey the law are to serve and possibly suffer wounds and death in the interests of the nation.

“The military authorities,” continues the Minister “are responsible for the administering of the Military Service Act, and what they have none ha- been legally done. It is not conceivable that the people, of this country would approve of a. course permitting persons who have set the law at defiance to be absolved from the law and he governed by their own inclinations. If the responsible authority is to knuckle under to insubordination, tbe whole fabric of the British Empire will crumble into chaos.”