MILITARY SERVICE.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 February 1918, Page 4

MILITARY SERVICE.

REGARDING OBJECTORS.

■A -MINISTERIAL STATEMENT,

WELLINGTON, this day.

In a statement to the press the Minister of Defence enters upon a lengthy vindication of the Department’s treatment of anti-militarists. He corrects, the impression general in the public, mind that 2Tu objectors are “conscienanu be goverend by their own incliaobjectors recognised by law is the “religious objector,” whose appeals will be allowed if he can prove that on August he was a member of, a religious body whose doctrines declare bearing arms and performance of combatant service contrary to Divine revelation. After explaining and justifying the treatment of objectors sent, abroad, the minister, concluding, said the question of treatment of anti-mili-tarists presents a clear cut Issue for the people of this country to consider. (A) whether the laws deliberately enacted by Parliament are to be the object; or (b) whether defiance of the law is to be permitted and those persons who know no rule but their own inclinations are to be practically exempt from military service while citizens and sons of citizens who recognse and obey the law are to serve, and possibly suffer wounds and death in interests of the nation. The military authorities are responsible for administering the Mlitary Service Act, and what they have done has been legally done It is not conceivable that the people of this country would approve the course ot permitting persons Who'S* law at defiance to be absolved from the law and be governed by tbeir own inclin, a ions, if responsible authority is to knuckle under to insubordination the "ole fabnc of the British Empire wall crumble into chaos. P