NO REMOVAL!

Evening Star, Issue 19658, 10 September 1927, Page 12

NO REMOVAL!

WAR DISABILITIES LEGISLATION CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS STILL • UNDER BAN [From Oua I’ablumentaex Reforter.] WELLINGTON. September 9. The repealing of the war legislation of 1918, which..imposed penalties upon conscientious objectors, was vetoed in the Legislative Council by a largo marjority. In committee on the War Disabilities Removal Bill, Air, A. S. Malcolm moved as an amendment'; to delete that particular portion of ■ the Bill which proposed to repeal the legislation referred to. Mr L.’ M. Isitt said ho recognised that amongst the conscientioim objectors were members of the Society of Friends for whom he expressed much admiration, and who had suffered no disabilities in the American Civil War. On the other hand, he had no sympathy for men who not only refused to fight for their country because they professed conscientious objections, but also discouraged others from doing so. “The war is over, and for goodness sake lot us forget everything about it that wo possibly can,’ 5 urged Mr B. Whitty, in support of tho Bill. The Leader of the Council, Sir Francis Bell, reiterated his belief that the marjority of tho conscientious objectors were not cowards. There were Irish people, he said, who had declined to servo because of religious and other reasons. Sir Francis said he could not see why they should continue the vendetta any longer. Surely the genuine conscientious objector was not to be penalised because of the minority who were really cowards. The precedent of tho ten righteous men was entitled to respect.' Mr J. A. Hunan suggested that the clause was a confession of weakness and an admission that the law of 1918 was a mistake. What had the shirker done to warrant his punishment being mitigated? If the clause were carried the council would stultify itself and admit its mistake. Let tho law remain, and let it, be a lesson to tho shirker that what was put into tho law was meant.

Air V. H. Reed endorsed this view, declaring that if the Bill'were passed a reflection would bo cast on those who had passed the Act in 1918. Surely it ,was better to allow conscientious' objectors to have their rights restored by the effluxion of time, which would be due in about eighteen months, than for, tho council to go out of its way to relieve them of their punishment.

The amendment was carried by twenty-four votes to nine, and i the Bill, as amended, was put through its final stages and passed.