DEMAND FOR RELEASE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10293, 30 May 1919, Page 6

DEMAND FOR RELEASE

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOKS.

I A meetinsr was held in the Trades Hall last night for the purpose of.calling pubno aiieniion to the inequalities 01 th. 9 sentences passed on conscientious objeotors: and calling for the immediate r«leaso of all conscientious objectors. Mr n. E. Holland, M.P.. presided over • good attendance. , Among tho correspondence read oat was the- following letter from Archbishop O'Shea:—"l regret that I shall b* unable to. attend your meeting to-mor-row evening re the conscientious objectors.' lam in full sympathy with it* object ana think that au genuine conscientious obiectors should be released at once.''

In: support of the object of the meet iriK M r Seniple. M.P., said that th» ohild-raper "and the blackmailer could c:oi)io out of prison and vole, while am honest and clean-liviuc man was to be disenfranchised - for ten years. Thii policy could oulv emanate from' the unreasoning rase. of : those- who were controlling the destinies of the people of New Zealand at tho present moment. ( Mr Grnyndler re.ferrcd to th eposition of women aiul children who were . dependent on some of these men in,prison. He protested aeainst th© women and children beins punished for the opinion* of those who were their sole means of support. Mr Holland mentioned that a deputation of West Const retnrn*'! soldiers' had interviewed tho Hon. T. Wilford for tfca mirpnse-of urfrinpr the release of P. C Webb: also that a petition for the «Bin# purpose was being extensively signed'by returned soldiers. j At the conclusion of the meeting a committee- was s"t un to work in eoninnction with other committees in tn« Dominion for th« pu-oose of o'-frnnmns: public op-'nion demanding the immedlati releaso cf tho conscientious objector* now in prison.