THE OBJECTORS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 46, 19 November 1918, Page 4

THE OBJECTORS

THEIR FUTURE DISPOSITION. Mniiy aUestiotiS hnvc been asked rsgarding the effect of the nmiisHcd on the status of nieU who refused to perform service under the Military Service Act burins; the war. These' objectors may be divided iiito tlrieo groups: (1) Men who established bona fide religious objections within -'the lAw _• and were granted exemntion by the military service boards ; v (2) men 'who refused- to bear arms, but signed an undertaking to perform civilian service; (3) men who refused to perform r.ny service at all, and whose appeals, if lodged,.were disallowed bv the boards.

The men in the first group are not affected 'at all by the armistice, _ since thev were not disturbed in their civilian employment. The men in the second, groun are either on leave or serving in civilian capacity at. the present time. Thev will be demobili?,ed with the troops, and' will receive their. final discharges in due course. The objectors in the third group nra lawbreakers, and many'scores of them ai-e how in prison serving terms of detention inflicted upon theni by courtsmartial. They are not held in the ordinary prisons, and ore not mingled with Other oi'iininals. The Governfflpnt has no present, intention of releasing tht«S men before the expii'atibn of their sentences. The authorities' do not consider it would be fitting to release the "defiant objectors" before the men who have done the fWhting have feturped to their homes, and most of the sentences will have expired before demobilisation is complete. ", . - ,