MILITARY TRAINING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143550, 15 July 1911, Page 3

MILITARY TRAINING.

A QUAKER PETITION. Per Pres, Association. AUCKLAND, July 15. . A deputation from the Society of Friends whited on tho lion. George Fowlde and asked that some provision be made whereby they might be relieved of all the military duty in connection with the ’defence scheme. The speakers said it was totally against their principles to take part in anything connected with war. They declared they would rather -leave New Zealand and would not hesitate to emigrate if the provisions of tho existing law were insisted upon. They did not wish to be regarded as unpatriotic, but they positively refused to become part of the military paraphernalia. It was suggested that they might be considered to conform to the la)V by joining some such society as an ambulance society. The Minister expressed sympathy with the deputation on a matter of conscientious objections. He . bad thought himself to obtain the insertion of a clause in the Act, providing for non-combatants and their duties, but it was understood that the Government’s own ambulance corps would till all requirements on this head. He did not know- whether military camps wouldbe necessary, and there might be some modification in uniform, but tho system of universal military training had been consented to by the country and could not be disorganised by making any exemptions. If tho “Friends” were allowed unlimited exemption their society would become so enlarged by people wishing to escape military duty that the whole position would become a farce. He promised to see what could be done.