CHRISTCHURCH UNEMPLOYED MILITARY SERVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 17 July 1929, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH UNEMPLOYED

MILITARY SERVICE

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS GOVERNMENT'S DECISION (By Talacrapb—PrtM AaaooiaUoaJ WELLINGTON, This Day The decision of the Government in respect to the appeal made in respect to the sentence imposed on two conscientious objectors m Auckland against military service was announced yesterday by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister stated that it would be improper to interfere with the course of the law, and the decisions of the Magistrates would stand. Instructions would be issued, however, that in future students of divinity would have the right, upon application to a Magistral, to obtain exemption from military service. Sir Joseph Ward made a similar statement in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon.. When Sir Joseph lannounced that the I exemptions would apply to divinity students only, Labour members interjected: "Or anybody else?" j Tiie Prime Minister: "Not anybody else." Reform members: "You will wreck the whole of the Defence system." Sir Joseph: "No, we will not!" Sir Joseph pointed out that tho Presbyterian Church was not unanimous on the question. The divinity students would have the right to apply for exemption. Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston): "Shirkers ! They have the best of the deal at last." Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) : "You kept a respectable distance out of it." Mr Speaker: "Order, order!" Sir Joseph Ward: "It is only for. those who apply." Reform members: "Everybody will apply." Mr H. E. Holland (Duller): "Will Miller's wages still be garnisheed-" Sir Joseph Ward: "Whatever the decision of the Court was, it must stand." Mr Holland: "The Prime Minister knows the position of the family, I expect." Sir Joseph: "We can't interfere with 'ho decision of the Court." Mr Holland: "His mother is dying." DUNEDIN REQUEST (fly Telegraph—Press Association) DUNEDIN, 15th July. At a meeting of the Public Questions Committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Pew Zealand to-day the result of the visit of the. deputation which waited on the Defence 'Minister at Wellington recently was discussed, and the following resolutions were carried:— (1) The committee is gratified to recognise the assurances which have been given to the deputation, by the Minister of advances towards a settlement of the existing difficulties in regard -to applications for exemption on the ground of conscience from the provision of compulsory military training, particularly (a) the Minister's statement that no denominational discrimination shall be shown in respect of conscience objectors : and (b) the Minister's undertaking that prescriptions of alternative service shall be gazetted and published in a regular manner. (2) It is resolved that this committee shall immediately approach the Prime Minister with the request that he bring the whole matter before his Cab. inet in order that the sentences imposed on Alan M. Richards and Alexander Miller be reviewed as earlv as possible.. (3) That the Presbyteries of the Church shall be invited to take action along similar lines. (4) ThaMhe committee welcomes the prospect ot impending measures which should bring the Dominion into closer co-operation with the movement for world peace.