DOMINION CONCHIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16038, 24 January 1918, Page 6

DOMINION CONCHIES.

TREATMENT IN ENGLAND. FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. , AVELLINGTON, Jan. 23. Replying to a question as to the treatment of conscientious objectors, the Minister of Defence said; “There were lourtoen men who were sent home, like all other troops were sent. This is the summar}' of the position with regard to these-fourteen so-called conscientious objectors ; Alcn alleging religious objection, o; men alleging hardships or public interest, 5; men who did not appeal at all, 4. In the case of one objector, whoso case had been brought specially under my notice, the man did not appeal on account of conscientious or religious objections; he appealed on account of public interest and hardship, and 1 his appeal, was dismissed. The'-men who were sent' Homo absolutely refused to obey orders during the voyage, and on arrival in England they were debit with exactly as other soldiers. The report I received from General Richardson was to the effect that they did not belong to any religious sect which objects Ho bearing arms; they wore not privileged tu receive special consideration, and they were medically fit and capable of undergoing training. The latest information is that all the conscientious objectors sent to England, except two, have agreed to do duty, either in the infantry or as stretcher-bearers. In addition to the two conscientious objectors just mentioned, there were three others who had been treated like any other soldiers, and haves had to be tried by .court-martial in France on a charge of disobedience to orders. The court-martial found them guilty and condemned them to five years’ penal -servitude. General Godley, however, commuted the sentence to two vears’ hard labour.