RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3964, 4 July 1929, Page 3

RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE.

PENALTIES ON PRESBYTERIAN STUDENTS. MINISTER OF JUSTICE TO BE INTERVIEWED. Dunedin, July 3. On June 12, an order withdrawing all civil rights for ten years from A. Miller and A. M. Richardson, two students for the Presbyterian Ministry, who have repeatedly refused military training on the ground of conscience, was made toy Mr. F. Tv. Hunt, S.M., in the Police (Court, at Auckland, when a line of £5 was imposed on each of them. On the same date, J. N. McDongall, who is also -a student for the ministirv was refused exemption and fined £l. The Magistrate offered Miller and Richardson hospital duty in lieu of military drill, tout this was refused. On the same day three youths of the -Seventh Day Adventist Church were exempted fro'm military service without auv penally or offer of alternative duty. In view of the foregoing, the Public Questions committee of the Presbyterian Assembly lias given the matter full consideration, after obtaining legal advice and has passed the following resolutions: ’(1) That while the Presbyterian Church does not encourage refusal to accept military training as long as that 'continues to toe the law of the land, it claims that individual members who have bona fide conscientious objections to military training and service should he granted the exemption provided under lhe Defence Act of 1909 and 1912; (2) In view of the obligation lo obey the law to the limits of conscience and the intimate relations of privilege and responsibility developing upon all citizens of the -State, the -committee endorses the advice given toy the Auckland Presbytery prior to the ease coming before the Magistrate's Court, viz, “that the Presbytery urges applicants to express their willingness to accept non-military service, as prescribed toy GovernorGeneral in Council.” (3) The committee regrets that the offer of hospital service made by the magistrate to A. M. Richardson and A. Miller, in lieu of military training, was not accepted by them.. (4) The committee is strongly of opinion that the imposition of the maximum sentence of deprivation of civil rights fotr ten years, in addition to a fine of £5 in each of the two -cases aforesaid, was unduly severe, inasmuch as it is generally held in the Church that these objectors have aC-ted in good faith. (5) That the Minister of Justice he requested to receive a deputation representing the Church with a view to the following: (a) Ascertaining whether it was within the province of the magistrate to offer alternative service without reference to the authority of the Govetnor-in-Council, as laid down in the Act; (b) requesting that the sentences he remitted in whole or in part; (c) that proceedings to imprison Miller and Richardson for nonpayment of fines be stayed, pending the interview with the Minister; (d) that, an endeavour toe made to settle the difficulties which have grown up in connection with the rights of conscience in matter of military training, when such rights are claimed in good faith on the testimony of trustworthy witnesses toy members of the Presbyterian Church; (e) that the prescription of alternative service toy the Gov-ernor-in-Gouncil be gazetted and published for general information. The matter was discussed in committee at -a meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery to-day and ire resolutions agreed to toy the General Assembly’s public questions committee were endorsed.

ANGLICAN BISHOP’S OPINION. Hamilton, July 3. In his charge to -Synod Bishop Cherrington in referring to three young Presbyterians who, in obedience to the dictates of conscience, refused to have anything to do with war, the Bishop said their honesty and sincerity had lo toe believed. They had suffered reproof at the hands of their Church and loss at the hands of the State hut it was opposition to Church and State that brought their Redeemer to the Cross.