CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1918, Page 3

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

r A LABOK MEMBER CATECHISED. . ~ Correspondent.) Welling, on, Dm. «. The conscientious o'ojeetor received a good deal of attention in the House today. His case was stated at some length by Mr. I\ Fraser (Wellington Central), who is proving himself the most persuasive and, in -ome respects, ■ themo*t reasonable of the Labor membars. Mr. Fraser. on this oarticiilar subject, did not make any impression on the House, and the provisions of the Expeditionary Forces Bill relatir-g to the disfranchisement of military defaulters were retained by 34 votes to ?. the minority consisting of Mr. 11. Jv Holland and Mr. Fraser. Mr. Fraser told the House that many of the conscientious objectors at present undergoing detention in New Zealand were men of high principle and good character, who wero animated by the very best of motives in refusing military service. They were men who would brave any dansev, and make any sacrifice for what they believed to he rig Tit Hon. T. M. Wilford: Do you contend that the men in gaol are of that type? Mr. Fraser: Some of them are. Mr. Wilford: Would you like me to read the letters they have written from gaol! Mr Fraser: If the honorabla Minister is capable of such a dishonorable act, yes. The letters are private letters: Mr Wilford: Are you loyal 1 Mr. Fraser: I consider I am just as loval as the member for Hutt, and more loval to the people of this country. There were men in New Zealand who. rightly or wrontrlv, had decided that it 1 was wrong to take human life. A member: TTow would they defend thiir country* Mr Fmser said these men would not resist, under anv conditions, if a German armr were marching through New Zealand and people were being shot-down, these conscientious obiectors would not resist. They would be convinced that iustinp and righteousness would triumph in- the end. | Mr Tv"ri<»ht: Thev are cowards. M*. Fraser: Then Christ was a coward. T nm not dewing that the doctrines of Christianity are impracticable at the proae'if time. Mi\ .\rrlcT=nn: Are all these men of that, eh a meter? Mr Fraser: Some of them are Some of them <ir n men of very peculiar orvnion? The Labor member made an apnea! for tolerance. He said he did not apree with the nnininns expressed by manv of the conscientious objectors But be considered all men had a right to their opinions, nnd he objected to persecution The conscientious objectors had been imnrisoned. and their punishment should not proceed fifrther.