APPEAL DISMISSED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 119, 22 May 1942, Page 6

APPEAL DISMISSED

CASE OF LORRY DRIVER

NOT CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR

"I see you are appealing on humanitarian and political grounds. Why political?" asked Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., at a sitting of the No. 1 Area Manpower Committee at Papakura yesterday of John William Meager, lorry driver, of Clevedon. Appellant replied that it was not a workers' war, but an Imperialist war.

The Chairman: Have you heard of Mr. Ernest Bevin, a British Labour Minister? Does he say it is an Imperialist war? "No. He says it's a workers' war. I don't believe everything he says," replied appellant. Meager added that he did not believe the Japanese were as bad as propaganda made out. Mr. A. M. Samuel: Have you read of the horrors of Nanking and at Rabaul?

"We have nothing official about It," said Meager. "We have the word of escaped prisoners that it did happen," retorted Mr. Samuel.

The Chairman: Some conscientious objectors have a deep religious conviction against taking life, but your faith Is political. Would you hold out the hand of friendship to the Japanese? Appellant said he would be friendly.

The chairman said the board considered that appellant was not a conscientious objector, and a very great danger to the country. His appeal would be dismissed.