NO “EASY TIME”

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22477, 12 January 1943, Page 2

NO “EASY TIME”

Conscientious Objectors OAMARU, Jan. 11. A charge that men detained in conscientious objectors’ camps were having an "easy time” was denied by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, at a meeting of North Otago farmers on Saturday evening. When questions were invited, following an address by the Minister on primary production in relation to the war effort, Mr J. B. Chapman, referring to a discussion on the manpower shortage, asked: “How many miserable damned crawlers have you got tucked away in concientious objectors’ camps? Why can’t they be made use of? They seem to be having a very easy time.” The Minister: I am a returned soldier myself, and I have no use for conscientious objectors, but the men in the two camps are growing flax and vegetables, and the majority of them are working very well. I can assure you that by no stretch of the imagination are they having an easy time. Mr Chapman (to the Minister): You haven’t answered by question. How many men have you in the two “conchie” camps? The Minister said he was unable to state the number. The biggest camp was at Strathmore. behind Rotorua, but the men there were being brought down to Manawatu for flax-growing operations. Mr Chapman: Are these men working a 40-hour week, with morning and afternoon tea? The Minister: f don't know about that. They jeceive no pay. and any who refuse to work go to gaol. In reply to another question, the Minister said the conscientious objectors were in confinement, and it would not be good policy to allow them out for work on farms.