Conscience.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 April 1914, Page 3

Conscience.

I AiND HARD W'OitK.. I A LEVIxA' DEI3ATE. I A communication was received at' last night's meeting of the Levin J>orough Council from the hi,on. -James Alien, -Minister oi Defence, asking the council as t<> the nature of any work at which the council is prepared to employ and supervise Religious and conscientious objectors to military training. The Mayor moved: That t[ii. council regrets that it canne. make any suggestions towan. helping the Minister to solve the problem of di" "conscientious' objectors to military service. Councillor Dempsey seconded the motion. Councillor France suggested that these young fellows be put on the Queon-street crossing to warn people against approaching trains. He moved an amendment "Thai thip council will use its best endeavours to find suitable work for conscientious objectors against military (raining when occasion arise." Councillor Lancaster seconded the amendment. He agreed with the principle and suggested that there was plenty of land out on the sandhills where the young fellows could be profitably employed tree planting. Councillor Dempsey did not see why conscientious and religious objectors should lie punished. To make them work in this way was almost as bad as sending them to prison. Councillor Parker said it was hard to separate l'eligious and conscientious objectors and the conn- i cil should show sympathy with the Minister s request. TTe thought the objectors could be profitably employed at tree-planting. Councillor Prouse said there would always be objectors io military training and the (iovernmcnt would make a mistake it it attempted to coerce (hem. FTe thought j (he Government could employ them about the camps. Or they could be- put into abattoirs and taught slaughtering: or else they could he. taught horse-shoeing. The Mayor took it that a man who dodged military drill would not be worth two straws to Hie council as far as his labour was concerned. Tie agreed with Councillor Prouse that they could be employed at military camps. A man from an office for instance, would be useless for such work as the Council could provide: roadmendincr and breaking stones. The amendment was carried hv fn eto four: Councillors TVance, Laneasler. Prouse, Mackenzie and Parker votiuq- for it. and the Mayor. Councillors TV>mps?r. TTaswell anrl Malheson airnmsf.