THE IMPRISONED OBJECTORS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 134, 1 March 1919, Page 8

THE IMPRISONED OBJECTORS

Attitude of returned soldiers

A STATEMENT 'REPUTED

'A statement' that returned soldiers Jiave signed a petition asking for the release of men imprisoned during the war ;or refusing ;to perform militay sevica was-'tho subject, of some' correspondence ;hat the Minister of Defence (Sir James Ulen); placed before a -. Dominion* . reporter yesterday. The Minister has writ' fflato Mr.. P. Fraser, M.P., us follows;—

"You'irfil no doubt recollect that when •i Labour deputation'.waited upon-me recently to urge the release of the conscieniious objectors to military - service who ire now iirider'gquig'seiitence of imprisonme^..a?,: intimat»d "lit the course'of your • remarks that 'a petition had been signed by returned jolaiers iii.'the Auckland district for. the release of the - conscientious objectors.' Subsequently I wrote to the president of the Returned Soldiers' Association and asked lvim if he was aware of any-such action having been, .taken by returned men, and also whether his association indorsed such '.action if taken as alleged. A copy ;of the reply-received from the association is forwarded for your information."

' file .secretary of the, Auckland Returned 'Soldiers' Association wrote.as follows: "It is possible that tho petition in question may have been signed by a few returned soldiers. I can, however, state that the resolution benring om.the question forwarded by this association to you some time ago represents the feeling of the big body of returned men. On Febraarjf 5, at. a .largely-attended . .general meeting.■ ofV.this .association, one of the members -moved that,the association-re-, quest the Government to.remit' the balance of. the .sentence being served -by 'Mr. P..C. Webb. 'This motion failed tofind a seconder .in a. meeting of over 400 men,' who expressed their disapproval of the resolution in unmistakable manner." • Th 9 resolution. forwarded to tho Minister by the executive of the-Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association in November last was as follows: "The executive of ' tho Auckland ■Returned Soldiers' are strongly of opinion that there should be no remission of sentences imposed on men for refusal to perform military service ■when called on for-same during the war. "That there, should be no remission of sentence of any person convicted of fl'di-' tion during the period that the Empire ,iv,is at war with Germany. . "That , the Government should use 'every means at to brim; to 'trial all men wlq> .have been called In the ballot and, who have failed to parade; also all men who may have do'-: Berted-after being.attested.":''' ~' •'