THE SHIRKER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10291, 28 May 1919, Page 5

THE SHIRKER

"A CUR TO HIS FLAG ”

RETURNED SOLDIER’S OPINION OF MILITARY DEFAULTERS. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May -'7At the Returned Soldiers’ Conference, on behalf of the- Uamaru association, which had no delegate present, Mr Alrich (Wellington) moved a remit; '•That the association considers tuat conscientious objectors who hare received sentence snouid be made to servo tne lull term." Mr -indrews (Auckland) moved au amendment that the i oho wing words ue added to the remit: "Ana that tne Government, bo urged to use every endeavour t)y offering rewards ana by other,-,means at their disposal to bring to trial every man who has failed to parade when called in a oailot, ana every man who deserted from camp after having been attested." Mr Airien agreed to include those words in his motion, but chairman ruled that the amendment referred to a different question from that of tno actual remit.

it was deciu'.d that Mr Andrews' proposal should come up us a separate motion. On the suggestion of -Mr Ratten (Wellington), -Ur Alrich agreed to alter the words -‘conscientious objectors" in his remit to ‘‘Military oefnulters."

Sir McManus (Dunedin) said he was of me opinion that a military defaulter should 00 punished, but u he really had conscientious objections, then, now that the war was "won, there was no call lor any display of vindictiveness. , Mr Long (Auckland) said he would have no mercy whatever on the man who had shirked his responsibility to his country, but he w'ould punish him in such a way that the pumsnment would not rehect on his dependents. The speaker respected a man who had a genuine religious opinion, but many had shirked their- responsibilities be-, hind the cloak of religion. He added that the Auckland association had pledged itself to sit on no committee with men who had failed to fulfil their obligations to their "country. Mr Melling (Auckland) strongly supported Mr Long and the remit. Mr Simeon (Gisborne) said there was only one way in which to describe a man who would not fight for his wife and children and for his flag. He was a, cur to his flag and to his country, and shooting was too good for him. Mr Tattersall (Kotorua) supported the remit, and remarked that every man who had been sentenced had had his case thoroughly sifted before such action was taken/ . . The -. remit was then put, and earned unanimously, Mr Andrews’-motion, as previously worded, was also carried without dis«ut.