"NOT TO BEAR ARMS OR SHED BLOOD"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3030, 17 March 1917, Page 8

"NOT TO BEAR ARMS OR SHED BLOOD"

——4 MILITARY BOARDS AND THEOLO GICAL STUDENTS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, March 16. The Military Service Appeal Board sitting at Napier to-day, Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., presiding, gave au important decision, in the cases of two theological students, Thomas M. Hefferman and \V. G. Boyd. The decision was as follows: —"These appeals were before tho board at its last sitting, when they were adjourned sine die to await the determination of the appeals by Archbishop O'Shea from the decision of the third Military Service Board, lu these particular cases the. Archbishop's appeal was as the employer, but these appeals arc by the appellants themselves. As the-final Appeal Board has not' yet been appointed,- and may not be established for some time to come, and, further, as tho appellants have informed us that they do not intend to appear and give evidence in support of tneir appeals, there •is no reason, why the decision of this board should be longer postponed. This board recognises- that the number of theological students of the Rom"an Catholic Church in New Zealand is very small, there being, according to Archbishop O'Shea a statement, only about thirty-four in the Dominion altogether. Two havs already volunteered (not being sufficiently advanced in their course to have the vows), and if the present two appellants are sent away this will he a nigh percentage of the total. All the students are, of course, single men, and if of military ago and medically 'lit will be in the First.Dmsion. Other sects are not-in that condition. As some of their probationers and students are married and in the Second Division, it would be unfair to this particular Church to further deplete the small body of students remaining, this hoard nor any other tribunal in the Dominion will compel any appellant to violate his oath, and in dismissrtg these appeals the hoard, dora so only on the condition that the military authorities will undertake that the appellants will not be required to do combatant work. That -is, that they shall not be compelled to bear arms or shed blood contrary to their oaths, ino appeals aro dismissed.