THE DEFENCE ACT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 254, 26 April 1912, Page 2

THE DEFENCE ACT

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. By Telegraph—PrMs Asswiatien. Auckland, Thursday. To-day a deputation representing an organisation opposed to the Defence Act waited on the Prime Minister and Mr.. Myers (Minister for Defence). In reply to the deputation, Mr. Mackenzie said that as the Act had been passed by Parliament they were there te carry out the law. He sympathised with those who for conscientious scruples had been imprisoned. When the Act was passed it was not contemplated that imprisonment would follow civil action. It was all very well for members of a deputation to urge the Government to cease defence work. If other nations did so it would be. all right, but while they did not do so defence was necessary.

Mr. Mackenzie asked if they had any suggestion to offer as to what they were prepared to do in lieu of the time others were giving for the defence of the country. When the House met n» doubt the subject would be again gone into, with a view to dealing in a different manner with the question of punishment.

A member of the deputation undertook to provide an answer to the request of the Prime Minister to have put in concrete form what service conscientious objectors would be prepared t» give the State in lieu of military training.