WOULD COMMIT SUICIDE

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22064, 10 September 1941, Page 4

WOULD COMMIT SUICIDE

Starvation As The

Medium

Objector’s Argument

A conscientious objector who appeared before the Armed Forces Appeal Board in Waimate yesterday, claimed that if he was required to observe his principles to the extent of not paying the National Security Tax, a war tax of 1/- in the £1 on wages, he would be forced to commit suicide by starvation, as he would not be able to receive wages. He later amended that claim, and admitted that it would be possible for him to live off a garden patch without any wages. The appellant was Archibald Allan Shearer and his case was dismissed. The chairman (Mr F. F. Reid, S.M.': You have always been a member of the Methodist Church? Appellant: Yes. You read the papers?—l do Sir. You read the statement recently made by the conference of your Church?—Yes. I disagree with the statement issued by the conference, and also that made by the secretary concerning military service.

Do you believe that what is being done in London, for instance, towards caring for the injured, is morally wrong?—l believe that it is part of the war.

Do you believe that it Is morally wrong?—l believe . . . . Answer yes or no.—To perform that service it would be necessary to take an oath and obey military authorities. Would you serve under the Emergency Precautions Scheme?—No, it would mean taking an oath. Witness added that he had seen a copy of the oath required, and he was not prepared to sign it. Mr Reid: I tell you here and now, that you are wrong. It is not an oath. It is an affirmation.—l regard an affirmation as an oath.

You would not join the E.P.S.? —No sir. Why not?—lt involves my taking part in the war. Do you know how long the E.P.S. has been in existence?—No.

It was in existence long before the war.—l know it was framed to deal with earthquakes and other calamities. Apart from the war it is all right. If your fellow townspeople were bombed, you would do nothing to help them?—l would give assistance to any injured person. You think it is wrong that people should be trained to render that service?—Each person must decide that for himself.

Do you think it is wrong?—Nothing is wrong with anyone fitting themselves to render service in any circumstances.

You yourself will not train yourself in a civilian capacity to give that service?—l did not say civilian Who controls the E.P.B. at the present moment?—l could not say r.ho is at the head of it.

Mr Reid: For a man of your mature years, and a man of your education, you are amazingly ignorant. It is controlled by local bodies. If t'is country went to war, you would not get bread or milk except by permission of the military authorities. You would take your bread and milk from the military authorities?

.-ppellant: If all other food was destroyed what else could a man do.

Hard to Accept You would take it? It wouldn’t choke you?—lt would be very hard to accept. Mr W. F. Tracy: If a building was on fire, what would it matter about military control? —If I saw a building on fire I would certainly help to put it out.

What use would you be without training?—No answer. Where did you get this idea about military control?—You pick up the Bible there before you and show me where the teachings of Christ support your ideas. What is your authority?— It is contained in the New Testament. You point out where it says that you are not to go into the Army.— There is no mention of the Army. Mr G. M. Hall asked how, as the appellant was a grocer’s assistant, could his shop remain open if it was not for the Army and the Navy. He went on to state that appellant was paying so much a week towards the war.

Appellant: In what way? Mr Hall: One shilling in the £ to war expenses.

Appellant: It is taken off my wages before I get them. Mr Hall: But you could work without wages.—Then you would require me to commit suicide through starvation.

Mr Hall: That is for you to decide, it is no concern of mine. Mr Reid: Does the law of the country command you to commit suicide if you do not pay Social Security Tax?—l would be out of work and living on charity if I did not pay it. Mr W. F. Tracy: You are living on charity to-day if you only realised it. Mr A. H. McKane: Would you accept the services of the E.P.S. in your own home?—To be honest, if they came along with equipment, I would accept their services.

Mr Hall: This question of suicide. I find that members of your Church from one end of New Zealand to the other raise it as a reply. It seems to be a stock reply. Do you believe in the necessity for it? Appellant said that he could cultivate a piece of ground and live off it. The appeal was dismissed.