MILITARY DRILL EXEMPTION

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1928, Page 2

MILITARY DRILL EXEMPTION

ATTITUDE OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. AUCKLAND, April 4. Holding that military training of any sort was contrary to the teaching of the Scriptures, four young men made applications to Mr F. K. Hunt, bi.M., in the Police Court for exemption from drill. They were : Allen M. (Richards, aged 21; William E. Byrt, aged 1!); Alexander Miller, aged 29; and Leonard G. Usher, aged 21. Richard Byrt and Miller were said to he Students for the Presbyterian Ministry, while Usher was a teacher and a member of the Methodist Church.

Exemptions had on three, previous occasions been refused Richards, and it had been denied Usher late last yea r.

The applications lodged by Byrt and Miller were the first they had made.

Ministers were called to testify that the beliefs of the applicants were genuine and honest. On behalf of the applicants, Mr Cocker said the youths were not the sort who desired to shirk military training simply because it was irksome. It was not n case of absenting themselves from drill, because they were careless and gave no thought to (heir country, hut because they firmly believed llioir convictions were right. The Magistrate: “If a student for Ministry of the Presbyterian Church has the view—an individual view—that military training is against its teaching, he cannot he a member of the church, can lie?” Counsel: “The views of the members of the Presbyterian General Assembly who -met in Christchurch last year have changed somewhat. At the last Assembly . they passed a resolution in which there is a clause which reads that the church “Claims for the members of this Church who hold conscientious objections to military training on religious grounds "the rights of exemption.’

The jffigistrntc: “Then a student holding those views can become _a clergyman in the Presbyterian Church?”

Counsel: “Yes. Even although it is known that perhaps 991 per rent of the Presbyterians think differently from the student, they do not hold that against him ff it is his individual genuine belief.” Tn the cases of Usher and Bullards, adjournments were made to allow the applicants to consider joining the Boy Scouts.

Judgment was reserved in the cases of Miller and Byrt. Jiyrt said he would not he a Scoutmaster, “because being in the Scouts onlv puts military ideas into youi head.” >