MILITARY TRAINING.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1927, Page 1

MILITARY TRAINING.

STUDENT FINED

AUCKLAND, June 15

An application for exemption from military training was made in the Police Court by Alan Morgan Richards. the Divinity student who at Tuesday’s meeting of the Auckland Presbytery unsuccessfully sought support for his attitude in refusing to undergo military training. Richards was charged with failing to attend drill.

Sergt.-Major Landman, for the Defence Department, said the accused had I ice n t ransferred to Auckland in .March, 192(5. He had previously been at Hamilton High School, and it was understood that he then aspired to oetome a non-commissioned officer in the School Cadets. After he had been transferred to Auckland lie had written to the Department asking to he transferred to another company. He did not attend drill, and, after several notices had been sent to him, he wrote stating that he did not intend to attend. as it was against his principles, lie had done no drill since then. .Mr AY. R. .McKean, S.M.: “ AVh.it is your religious belief ? ” Accused: “ I am a Presbyterian.”

The Magistrate: “ It is news to me that the Presbyterian Church takes this view.”

The accused replied that it was the logical conclusion of the resolution ol the Presbyterian General Assembly, passed last November, which had declared that military training was wrong in principle. II it was wrong in principle, it was obviously wrong to take part in it.

The Magistrate said exemption had been granted to members of a certain Church whose teaching was against military training, but not to members of the Presbyterian Chureli. Accused: “ t do not stand so much on the opinion of my Church as on my own belief that military training Is unchristian.”

Accused added that he thought wai amounted to wholesale murder, and that he would he failing in his Christian duty if he did not oppose preparation for it. lie based his belief on l!io command to do no murder, and held that military training was a preparation to do murder.

ITndor cross-examination, the accused stated that when ho was at the High School he had not intended to go into the Church. He had not asked the Presbytery for its support, but for its views, and the resolution it had carried on Tuesday was what he had expected, although not what he had hoped for.

The Magistrate: “You think you arc wiser than they? ” Accused: “In this matter, yes. I stand to inv own conscience.”

The Magistrate: “The State has placed upon you certain duties. 1 hope von do not inland to persist in this attitude.” The accused : “ I do.”

The Magistrate: “You are young vet, and your ideas may change. Aon had bettor go home and think it over.” Accused : “ 1 feel I must obey my own conscience before any external law.”

The Magistrate: “ A”ou will find you will have to oliev an external law as long as you live in a civilised country.” lie added that he would not impose a heavy penalty on this occasion, but if the accused appeared before the Court again he would have to he dealt with differently. A fine of Cl was imposed, the accused being allowed I t days in which to pay.