THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 May 1919, Page 3

THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR.

I do not always see eye to eye with. Sir Jas. Allen, Defence Minister, but I must say that I heartily endorse his views regarding that much-discussed person the consientious objector. Beplying to one of his recent critics Sir Jas. wrote : "We had to fight for our liberty, and I think you will agree with me — now that we have seen something of tlie peace terms and the covenant of the League of Nations—that we may hope the war has not been in vain. You will scarcely contend that so favourable a peace could have been secured until we had won in the fight. You must also concede that we could not win without the men to fight for us. There seems only one jtist conclusion, and that is that if a nation has to fight for its freedom and liberty every one of its citizens should be prepared to take^ his part in the fight. You know^thakif^QLur.citizens objected to combatant service we Suffered them opportunities to take noncombatant work with the army. If they have refused that they have refused to do their duty as citizens." One thing is certain : had conscientious objectors been common, instead of few and far between, Germany might have won the war —and where should we have been then ?