CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 241, 29 June 1918, Page 8

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

OPEN INQUIRY AS TO THEIR TREATMENT ASKED FOE, By Telegraph—Press Association. . Dunedin, June 28. A deputation from the Labour Council •waited on Sir James Allen to-day with reference to the alleged treatment of conscientious objectors at Wanganui. The deputation asked for an open incuiry concerning the conscientious objectors imprisoned at Wanganui, and that the men concerned should have the rigjit of representation by counsel, without restrictions in the way of calling witnesses. ■. Sir James Allen said that the tiovernment proposed to appoint ft Magistrate to hold the fullest investigation.. He could not see how t'uj winse of justice would be helped l>y a public inquiry, and he could not see his way to alter his opinion on that point. The c.uestiou of representation by counsel would >e referred to the Magistrate holding the inquiry, and if he considered counsel to be desirable the matter could be arranged. If the officers of the .Department had behaved improperly they would bei punished. The .Minister assured thei dotation there was not any danger <u ucumisation.

.WOMEN PROTEST. ' By Tclegraph.-l'resß, Association. Dunedin, June 28. A deputation from the Women s ; In« ternational League waited on Sir James Allen this afternoon and objected to the treatment alleged to have been meted out to conscientious objectors it «»«■ ganui, and demanded a full public inquiry, and that the men concerned D 8 represented by counsel.' Reierence also, made to the deportation of conscientious objectors'from New Zealand A member of . the deputation read a letter from a soklier at Home to the eftec that the crucifixion method of puuisliSt was still practised, .though it had long been abolished m the New tola Sir James Allen said he Iva . s r ple ?i ß . C .t to have the testimony of the soldier that this mode of punishment did not exist in the New Zealand army. .The description given to it was a lnisnomer, and conveyed a wrong impression to the pub lie. He had asked the defence authoi - ties at Home to supply, a report concerning any men in prison who ere not allowed to write to their lie knew of no such caae. ut naii looked into the cases of conscientious objeotors, and believed there werei bO or 70 per cent, of defiant shirkers tijins to evade duty. There were avenues of usefulness, sucli r«s the ambulance, for conscientious objectors to enter.