OBJECTED TO DRILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16903, 30 November 1922, Page 7

OBJECTED TO DRILL.

A YOUNG SOCIALIST. "I go to the Socialist Sunday i School.” said n fifteen-year-old boy who ! ' marie application in the Magistrate’s j Court this morning for exemption from S military drill on the grounds that it: j j was contrary to' lus religious beliefs. The Magistrate (Mr IT. V. Widdow j | .sou; mm t iioueu tlie above information j j and proceeded to question the applicant further, the dialogue being some- ' j tiling like this : j Which church does your father be- ! long to? The Church of England. \ How long have you been going to ' ! the Socialist Sunda,- School • Six vear- : at least. Did your father consent to your j | going there? They did not stop me. * 1 could choose myself. You could choo.se yourself at nine j Now. ,vhat do they I>eliove ? Thev \ i believe that war is wrong ami that it j i' wrong to light or to prepare to j I light. ! I)<i you believe that too?- Yes. j How long have they been teaching I you that? Ever since I have been to | the Sunday school. ) on believe that your training as a I cadet is contrarv to vour religious b« - 1 lief?—Yes. Have you got nriybodv T<o speak for j you? No. I shall want a little more than that. J lave you attended anv drills at all I e>. at- Technical College. What kind? Physical drill and a ! ; little musketry. Did you object to tlie nnisketrv? ' No. not a I that time. How old were you then ?—I was j fourteen. How long did you continue drills? i t o till about two months ago. Wliy didn’t you object then? Well, j ; my mother said jt would be better to ! leave me till I could think for myself I Arc you old enough to think for j j yourself yet? I think so. What drill? That is : ■ a good thing, '‘csn’t- it? Yes. if it Js ; | used lor the right purpose : not for , training to fight. Supposing you went in for phvsieai i drill now? I think I have got ohvsical ; drill now : T.n what, way? -Working, j Why didn’t vou object to the drill , before?—l thought ] might lie take.! j ! away from the school and lose my ! education. Who is the head of the Sundayschool?—Rev Chappie. Captain Foster, on behalf of the De \ fence Department, said the applicant / had signed a. statement- that both his j parents belonged to the Church of J 1 England. j I The hearing of the application was i i adjourned till to-niorrovy, the Magistrate asking that the objector should I be accompanied bv his mother, for the j purpose <>l '•pouring further testimony.