CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1940, Page 3

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR

DECISIONS OF LOCAL TRIBUNALS.

An interesting question touching the nature of conscience was raised by the British Ministry of Labour representative at the first sitting of the Appellate Tribunal, to which the appeals of conscientious objectors against the decisions of local tribunals arc referred, notes Professor C. E. M. Joed, writing in the ‘’Spectator.” His submission was that unless C.O's. object to all wars and not merely to this one. to all forms of violence and not merely to military violence, their objection cannot be considered to be conscientious, but must be regarded as being political. The chairman. Mr H. A. L Fisher, appeared by implication to endorse the views of the Ministry of Labour representative: “The legal point is.” he said, “that under the terms of this Act protection is given to lhe pacifist. That is to say. the man who objects to war as a thing evil in itself. That was the intention of the Statute, not to protect every form of conscientious objection.” As examples of forms of conscientious objection not protected. ho instanced the objection of a Fascist to fight for Parliamentary govern-' ment, of a Scottish Nationalist to fight for England, and of “the Socialist who) may have an objection to fighting for aj capitalist State.”