MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14144, 22 July 1916, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS

LEGISLATURE'S COMPROMISE,

NON-FIGHTERS AT THE FRONT.

(Feom Our Own Cofresponj:ent\)

rrr Wellington, July 21. The long negotiations between both Houses on the question of religious objectors to military service Have ended in the adoption of a clause under which the ; State may force this class of men right to the front on non-combatant work.

| The terms of the agreement -s-übmit-j ted to the House of Representatives to|tlay show that ,the conference, agreed to ; exempt, religious^ objectors from actual combatant service provided they served in a non-combatant capacity, including service in the Medical Corps y and Army Service Corps, this service to be given not merely in New Zealand, but wherever the military authorities required it. ■ ' .i '.:■■■ ■'■'■'■ ■' ' - ■ •

Mr Allen said that such? a man had to do many hazardous:thilgrin'cckrblbod without any excitement: such, as ' belonged to a bayonet charge, throwing bombs, and that.sort of thing. rAn objector would have to prove to "an exemption board his absolute., belief tha,t it was contrary to Divine levelation to bear arms for his country. That Would be a pretty stiff proposition. Mr Herries slaid the . Government wanted to get the Rill through. A division resulted in the conference amendments to the Bill being agreed to by 44 votes to-1& ;