MILITARY TRAINING

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 74, 31 July 1929, Page 6

MILITARY TRAINING

THE DIV.LNSTY STUDENTS. ATTITUDE OF UHUKUH. DUNEDIN, July 30. The Presbyterian Church attitude to conscientious objectors was Author considered at a meeting of the Assembly’s Public Questions Committee to-day. i Reviewing what had occuned with the Defence Minister and the Premier, the committee states: “The Minister’s promises as to future treatment and the prescription of alternative service were important, but in regard to the Premier s decision t° amend tire law to exempt divinity students this is not desired, it being the Church’s view that students and even ministers shoui)d render service to the State if need arose without differentiation rroni other members, provided the rights of conscience were not infringed or their spiritual duties sacrificed to combatant or secular activities. 'The committee renews the urgent plea made to the Premier to request the Governor to exercise his prerogative of a review and remission of the present sentence. Finally, in view of the Compulsory Service Repeal Bill before Parliament, the Committee resolved to forward to the Premier and Minister a copy of the General Assembly’s resolutions twice confirmed, recording the conviction that the military activities of the Dominion should be curtailed and compulsory training abolished.”