Objections To Military Training

Chronicle (Levin), 6 October 1949, Page 5

Objections To Military Training

WELLINGTON, October 5. 1 The appointment of one conscientions objection committee for the whole of the Dominion, to hear applications for registration as conscientious objectors, is provided for in an amendment made to the Military Training Bill by the statutes revision committee which reported the Bill back to the House of Representatives today. No limit on the nnmber of such committees was imposed by the original Bill and the amendment is designed to bring about uniformity in deeisions relating to conscientious objectors. Another amendment made by the committee provides that any person liable for service under the Bill may at any time apply to be registered as a conscientious objector notwithstanding that he may have registered in the military service register. Eveiy sucn application shall be acCepted unless, in the opinion of the Director of Employinent, there are no reasonable grounds for supposing that the applieant is a conscientious objector. If it is accepted, the registration of the applieant in the military service register will oe caneelled and the case dealt with in accordanee with the proeedure for the hearing of applications by conscientious objectors. The original Bill provided that such application had to be made before a person became liable for his military service. The objeet of tne amendment is to meet the case of a person ■Ovho enters eamp and subsequently has a ehange of faith and beeoihes & conscientious objector. The scope of the clause in the Bill relating to the 'review oi; cases by a postponement committee or by the conscientious objection committee, has been widehed slightly. The original Bill provided that the Director of Employment could apply to such committees for a rehearing of any case if new aha material evidence had been discovered. This implied that additional evidence had to relate to something found subsequent to the first hfearing but the amendment permits of a more comprehensive interpretation by stating that a rehearing could be granted if new and material evidence was available. The clause prohibiting the supply of liquor in training camps has been rewritten. The amendment states that no person shall snpply any intoxicating liquor to any trainee in any training camp or to any trainee under the age of 21 years in any other naval, military or air force camp, station or establishment. It also states that ua person, shall set u.p or permit to be conducted,. any wet eanteen in any training camp*