OBJECTIONS TO WARFARE

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1928, Page 15

OBJECTIONS TO WARFARE

A MANAIA YOUTH IN COURT APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION. MAGISTRATE REFUSES REQUEST. Because he belonged to "The Followers of Jesus,” W. S. G. Emson, of Mina in, aged 21, made his second application at Hawera on Thursday for exemption from the obligations of military training on the grounds that his religious beliefs were abhorrent to war or the bearing of arms. Exemption wrs again refused. Einson conducted his own case, quoting Scripture in support of his objections to service. He found, however, that Scriptures were being quoted from the Bench with more than equal aptitude. As a final example of the ways of Christ manifesting just righteousness and wrath Mr. Barton quoted the passage dealing with the use by Christ of the rod on the money lenders' in the temple at J erusalem. That others belonging to the same sect had gone to France and fought in the Great War was the argument cf Sergeant-Major A. E. Stevens, who appeared for the Defence Department.Emson had been efficient in no single year, he said.