OBJECTORS TO SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3139, 18 July 1917, Page 6

OBJECTORS TO SERVICE

PROTEST TO THE MINISTER AGAINST THE COMPULSORY EMBARKATION OF MEN The". treatment of conscientious objectors was the subject of a prottst made yesterday by a deputation which waited upon the Defence Minister. The complaint was against the practice of sending away in transports men who would not submit to discipline in the camps here. Mr. J. M'Combs, M.P., introducing the deputation, said that there was a good deal of rmblic resentment against the manner in which religious objectors had been placed on transports about to ■leave.'New Zealand. In England, as late as July 5, 1916, the British Prime Minister had said thftt conscientious objectors would not be sent to France, but New Zealand still persisted in the policy. Mr. J. Read, president of tho Trades and Labour Council, said that no good purpose could be served in shipping such men away. It could not be conceived that tho Government was sending these men to the trenches simply to be shot. They could nover be of any real use there. Mrs. Valentino made a complaint that she did not know the whoreabouts of her son, a conscientious objector, who would not perform any military service whatsoever. He was,. she said, only 21 years'of age, a youth of good education, ind unblemished character. Among tho other speakers at the deputation was Mr. J. Roberts, secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation. He protested against men being sent 12,000 miles to fight (.gainst their will, and suggested that tho Government ought to bring them back to New Zealand.