MILITARY TRAINING.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1924, Page 4

MILITARY TRAINING.

A RELIGIOUS OBJECTOR. AUCKLAND. May 19Tlie obligations of a young Christadelphian under the Defence Act were the subject of some lively talk in the Magistrate's Court to-day. A youth, backed up by bis father, sought exemption oil the grounds that military training was contrary to the canons of lifs faith. ]\fr Glaistor appeared in support of the application. Staff-Sergeant Major Tunes informed Mr J. W. Boynton. S.AI., that when the Court ordered conscientious objectors to serve in the Medical Corps, they were placed in squads to do physical drill till such time as they were old enough to be transferred to the Territorial Force, when they would be posted to the non-couibatant branch.

The father stated that the son objected to being under military discipline. He did not wish to evade equivalent service, and was willing to work in the Public service.

The Magistrate remarked that this case appeared genuine enough, but sometimes the applicants mi rely wished to evade training. A case had come under his Worship’s notice which should lie given publicity in order to show how .insincere these people sometimes were. Ilis Worship had heard an application for exemption h\ severa. young men who represented themsel > ves as being members of a sect known as the Testimony of Jesus. Some little time afterwards his Worship received a letter from the founder of the faith. This letter showed how insincere the applicants had been. It stated that the founder was a true Britain and was willing to shed his last drop of blond for bis country, and .that lie was very annoyed to think that any of his followers should make their faith an excuse for trying to evade service.

The Magistrate decided that the boy could not ho exempted. He would serve in the Physical Training Squad. The father should take some action in the matter of the ambulance classes. The father: AVe will sir. AVe will bring it under tho notice of the Alinister.