Objectors, Conscientious and Otherwise.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16435, 31 January 1919, Page 6

Objectors, Conscientious and Otherwise.

Sir Janies Allen in our opinion deservos to be -warmly congratulated on the admirable tone of his reply to the deputation from the Labour Conference who waited on him yesterday to urge, or rather demand, the release of tho socalled conscientious objectors from imprisonment. His attitude throughout was that of a high-minded patriot, humane in disposition, without a trace of vindictivenoss, but determined to carry out what he believed to be his duty. We shoula have thought a great deal more of the Labour extremists who now show so much concern for the objectors to military service who are in prison, if they had ever displayed any anxiety to win the war when it was within their power to render assistance in that direction. On the contrary, the very persona who are now seeking to make political capital out of the imprisonment of objectors to military service are the same persons who never lifted a finger to assist voluntary recruiting, and who afterwards opposed compulsory service on the ground that -voluntary recruiting was all that -was necessary, but that it had not been sufficiently tried. They are of the class who mil themselves "International," and prefer every country to their own, and tho Labour Party will never bo a power in this country until it has purged this antiBritish element from its ranks.

It will bo observed that Mr Parry, tho minors' representative, practically threatened another coal strike if the demands of the deputation in regard to the so-called conscientious objectors were not conceded. We do not know of any section of the community less entitled to threaten the people of tho Dominion in this impudent fashion. In the early days oi the war tho best of the miners volunteered for active service, and the Dominion owes them a debt of

gratitude both for the fine example they set and for their splendid work at tho front. The mirers who romained behind were exempted from service, and hundreds of men went into the mines who had never worked as miners before, simply to get that exemption. They took the place and the pay of the men who had gone to tho war. As soon as the armistice was declared, scores of them cleared out again to resumo more congenial occupations, and that is one of .the reasons why tho people of New Zealand are going short of coal to-day.

The attitude t-akon up by the Minister of Defence is one that will commend Itself to the community at large. Dnrectly the armistice was signed tho Government appointed a Board with power u> release those who had honest religious objections to military service, but who did not come within tho.exemption laid down in the Act. These cases will be treated with sympathy, but Sir James Allen will make no promise with regard to defiant objectors. Thousands of our brightest and best have laid dawn their lives. Before the Hun was beaten *t> wns necessary to call up married men with two children, and nil the time there were some 2000 men of military ago shirking service and skulking in any hiding-place they could find, not because they had conscientious objections, but because they were cowards and wanted braver men than themselves to do any fighting that had to be done. Sir James Allen rightly said that every effort would bo made to oaptnro these men, and if caught they would liave to take their gruel. As to those who are already in prison, tHe men -with genuine religious objections w£ll receive generous treatment at the hands of the Board that has been eefc up. The defiant objectors deserve no consideration and -wo hope will receive none.