CONSCRIPTION IN WAR TIME

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22513, 22 September 1938, Page 12

CONSCRIPTION IN WAR TIME

GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE

MR FRASER’S REPLY TO

QUESTION

(TBES3 ASSOCIATION TEUSBAX.)

WELLINGTON, "September 21,

“It would be obvious that if war came, everybody and all wealth would have to be placed at the service of the Dominion,” said the Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser), addressing a political meeting in Wellington, when asked by a questioner whether, in the event of the outbreak of war, the Labour Government would conscript wealth before manpower.

“What has been going on with regard to dictatorship governments makes us all the more keen to maintain democratic institutions,” added Mr Fraser. “There can be no conscription of people without conscription of wealth.” ~ ... Asked what the Governments attitude towards conscientious objectors would be in the event of war, the Minister said that those people whose religious convictions were such that they did not believe they should take part in war would have to be considered, but there were very few -of them and he thought there was plenty of useful work they could do apart from actual fighting. However, if a hostile cruiser came to New Zealand, conscientious objectors would be subject to the same cruelties as anyone else.