CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1920, Page 3

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

REQUEST FOR THEIR RELEASE WELLINGTON, July 22.

A deputation claiming to represent the whole of the industrial and political labour movement of New' Zealand, waited on the Prime Minister and tile Minister of Justice to-day, to urge the rej lease of all conscientious objectors and , military prisoners, and to make a declaration of a general amnesty.

Mr H. Holland, M.P., introduced the deputation, which included representatives of the recent Labour Conference, and Labour members of Parliament. It was urged that the Government bad vindicated its position, and that now was the time to show inerev.

Mr Massey, in replying, said that the request of the deputation for n genera! amnesty must be decided by the Cabinet. Some little time ago Cabinet decided to remit six months of the sentences which conscientious objectors were . serving, and as a result of the remission, twenty three bad been released, or were just about due to be released.,Some of the other men still in prison were there for criminal offences. The question of the men being deprived of civil rights was a matter for Parliament. His own position was briefly this: We had passed through a serious national crisis from the point of view of Empire and of civilisation, and had come through successfully. There were a number of men who had failed in their duty, and shirked their duty in the time of peril, and lie could not help saying that n a man shirked his duty m the hour of peril, that man could not expect to come back in time of peace and enjoy all its privileges.