RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 257, 18 July 1918, Page 6

RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS

Sir,—As the subject of objectors is m good deal before the public at this time,, the writer would like, through the medium of your columns, to draw attfntion to the very, unfair position in which religious objectors, other than Clii'isladelphians, Quakers, and Seventh Day Advontists, are placed. The desire of tho Legislature in the religions objector' clause of tho Military Service Act was: undoubtedly to exempt those who believethat it is contrary to Divine revelation to engage in warfare. Owing to fear of the clause being made use of by shirkers, the safeguarding provision w;is included, requiring proof of membership, prior to August, 19U, of a sect, whose! tenets forbade warfare. Now this condition lias had the effect of excluding from exemption many who are in tho class that it wat the genuine desire or the Legislature to assist, and the only course upon to such has been to co to' gaol. Now, Sir, if instead of the above, provision of sect membership, an apellant had to submit his case to a Magistrate who was empowered to examine and make inquiry—personally if noces«iry—regarding the past life, etc., of appellants, it would be found that flip, proportion of shirker? who would get past would he negligible. lieligion i«; tho last thing that the class of man 'who. would evade, duty would be likely (<i. shelter behind, as such a man is almost: invariably irreligious to a degree, and. would almost certainly be exposed. Now. Sir, though Siv ,Tames Allen'claims that the "sect membership clause" is necessary as there is no way of proving conscience, yet as one who has met a good miany of tliie Veligious objectors the writer ..is convinced that there are very few posing n.s religious objectors who are not genuine, and consequently the. above suggestion of a Magistrate to undertake the matter would in all probability result in the original intention of the Legislature being carried out far more effectively than under the present system.—l am, etc., PETER.