ANTI-MILITARISTS IN PRISON

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 201, 20 May 1919, Page 9

ANTI-MILITARISTS IN PRISON

QUfKBES AND THE CABINET.

An appeal for the release of imprisoned conscientious objectors was recently made to the Government by the Auckland 'meeting" of the Society of friends (Quakers). The society, which had been invited to participate in peace celebrations, pointed out the difficult position ot its members. They would feel hypocritical in celebrating peaco at a time when, as they said, tho spirit of peace 60 littlo prevailed that a number of men, including some of thoir own members, wero still in® prison "for acting in accordance with* deep moral or religious convictions" in refusing to submit to conscription. The appeal was addressed in an identical letter to" tho .Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen, and the Minister ol Justice, the Hon. T. M. Wilford. Tho letter' further stated: -

"Some of these men referred to are un. dergoing a second term of imprisonment for what is virtually.one offence. Tliesn meii are suffering for loyalty to what they believo to the the truth, and we feel that it is a sorry, and degrading position for such a country as this to be iivliarticularly at a time when citizens a£e being asked to celebrato peace. We hold .tho firm conviction that all these nien who have undergone imprisonment without endeavouring to elude tho authorities hnvo overy just claim to immediate consideration with regard to release, and wo wish now to urge that an end should bo at once put to this persecution." _ Mr. Wilford replied that he had reterred the request for tho releaso of imprisoned Quakers to tho Ministor of Defence. Th clerk of tho society then wrote pointing out that tho appeal had been made not only for members of tho society, but on behalf of all imprisoned conscientious objectors'. ' Sir James Allen, in his reply, dated May 5 said: "Tho names of certain bona fide religious objectors to military service have notrbeen placed on'tho military defaulters' list, but' Cabinet, after careful consideration decided that for the present it could not agree to their libera-' lion from prison." The Minister further asserted that the Military Servico Act had given Quakers "full relief from all military service," and pointed out that ?oine members of the society hnd accepted the alternative service on the State Farm at Levin. Those who had refused this alternative service, he said, lmd "no ono but themselves to bliime, for tho consequences that followed."

The Minister's view on. this point wns discussed by the Society of Friends, in Auckland at their monthly meeting last Sunday. It was decided to send -a reply pointing out that several members of the society had considered the alternative service an improper compromise, and that their view had 'been supported by _ tho New Zealand'conference of the society on tho following grounds:— (1) That those accepting alternative servico were required to sign an undertaking to render any servico the military authorities might domand. (2) That the Government's offer of work on State farms was contained merely in a memorandum from tho Adjutant-Gene-ral. This offer could bo revoked or the regulations themselves could he altered or cancelled by Order-in-Council at any time, while the objector would remain committed to his undertaking.

It was pointed out at last Sunday's meeting that Mr. Massey, in interpreting the Military Service Bill to Parliament had stated that any who were granted exemption 'under tho Act could be required lit) erect bnrb-wire entanglements at the front.

The New Zealand conference had further complained that the allowance made, unsatisfactory as it wns to some members of the society, wns granted only to "Quakers and members of two other-small sects, • while others with equally . conscientious convictions of tho wrongfulness of warfare were given no consideration. Tho clerk of the society is to represent these views to the Cabinet in a letter rwewing tho appenl for the release of all conscientious objectors.