THE TERRITORIAL SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 265, 7 April 1914, Page 2

THE TERRITORIAL SCHEME.

CONSCIENTIOUS OIJJiECTOIIS. MUST GIVE EQUIVALENT SERVICE. Conscientious objectors to military training, while they may obtain exemption from the military service which irks their souls, are not to be allowed to get off scot free. That is the determination of the Defence Department, and this decision formed the subject of a brief discussion at the meeting of tho Taranaki County Council yesterday.

The Minister for Defence forwarded a copy of a circular which is being sent to all local bodies, dealing fully with the matter. It was pointed out that persons exempted from military service for reasons of religion or conscience must be made to render an equivalent amount of service useful to the country. The number of exemptions for religious reasons was at present only about 60 in the whole of New Zealand, but when the proposed conscience clause came into force it was anticipated that the number of "conscientious objectors'" (the inverted commas belong to the circular) would largely increase the number of exempted individuals. The Department had, therefore, decided to ask local bodies to make suggestions as to bhe class of work at which rclifious and conscientious objectors could be profitably employed, and to state whether they could make arrangements for the work to be done under their supervision, or assist the Department in any way. The amount of work .performed in a year must be equivalent to the amount performed bv Territorials, and if that work were to he done in camns, then military camp rates of pav must be allowed. The object of the Department was that all persons liable for military tminin" should, during the term of their liability, contribute their just share of work to the country without doing violence to their religion or their consciences. A Councillor: G-et them to collect the dog tax free of charge. Cr Stevens eugsjested that these persons be formed into camps for re-affor-estation of the sandy coast=. This would be "ood, healthy work, and a fringe of trees would aid in coastal defence work.

Cr. Hill; Do you want to kill them ripftt off? Or. Stevens: Not exactly. Thov ought to do something for the eonntrv. The. chairman remarked that the sub.Ject bristled with difficulties. If these men were put to ordinary road work under the Council there would he a good deal of "fiovenvment stroke" about it. Cr. McAllum said that this was rather outside the Council's jurisdiction. Tt was final!'" decided to adopt Cr. Stevens' suggestion as the opinion of the Council, and to forward this decision to the Department.