DIVINITY STUDENT FINED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3653, 18 June 1927, Page 3

DIVINITY STUDENT FINED.

FOR OBJECTING TO DRILL. An application for exemption from military training was made in the Auckland Police Court on Wednesday by Alan Morgan Richards, a Divinity student, who at Tuesday’s meeting of the Auckland Presbytery unsuccessfully sought support of his attitude in refusing to undergo training, Richards was charged with failing to attend drill. The accused stated that lie had not asked the Presbytery for its support, but for its views, and the resolution it hod carried on Tuesday was what he had expected, although not what he hod hoped for. The Magistrate, Mr. M'Kean: “You think vou are wiser than they?” The accused: “In this matter, yes. I stand to my own conscience.” The Magistrate: “The State has placed upon you certain duties. I hope you do not intend to jtersist in this attitude.” The accused: “I do.” The Magistrate: “You are young yet, and your ideas may change. You had better go home and think it over.” The accused: “I feel I must obey my own conscience before any external law.” The Magistrate: “Ybu will find you will have to obey the external law as long as you live in a civilised country.” He added that he would not impose a heavy penalty, but that if the accused appeared before the court again he would have to be dealt with differently. He was fined £l, and allowed 14 days to pay.