NO USE OF FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1941, Page 6

NO USE OF FORCE

ATTITUDE OF OBJECTOR BEFORE APPEAL BOARD CROWN REPRESENTATIVE’S CAUSTIC COMMENT. . “GGD HELP YOUR PEOPLE.” “God help your people!” was the comment passed by Mr J. S. Wauchop (Crown representative) at the sitting of the No. 4A Armed Forces Appeal Board in Masterton this morning, when a conscientious objector, Gordon Charles Tombs, farm hand, asserted that he could not use force to protect his mother and sisters if they were in danger of being treated as women in enemy occupied countries had been treated by the aggressors. The appeal was dismissed. Under cross-examination Tombs said, he could not, in any circumstance, help the sick or the wounded. He could not join the E.P.S. because, he said, it was brought into being as a i result of the war. j Mr Wauchop pointed out that the E.P.S. was founded after the Napier earthquake. Tombs, under further cross-examina-tion, said he did not believe all he read in the papers about the way the people were treated in enemy occupied countries. His religion did not allow him to join the Red Cross organisation. He had read in the papers what the church ladies had said about the destruction of Christianity in enemy occupied countries, but he was not prepared to go among the men who were fighting for Christianity to heal or succour them. Mr Wauchop: “You must afimit that it says in the Bible: ‘I bring you not peace but a sword?’ ” Tombs: “Yes, but I will not take up a sword.” Mr Wauchop: “Supposing the Germans, or the Japanese if you have any love for them, came here and treated your loved ones, your sisters and your mother, as others’ loved ones have been treated by the aggressors in Europe, would you not use force, regardless of whether you killed anyone or not?” Tombs: “No, I could not use force.” Mr Wauchop: “Then God help your people!” Mr H. B. Lusk (chairman): “You have said that Hitler is Antichrist — what is your opinion about the English? . Is it wrong for them to fight?” Tombs: “I suppose they are doing their best to save themselves.” G. R. Garratt, retired, of Masterton, gave evidence in support of the appeal lodged on the grounds of conscientious objection. Robert Thomas Olliver, dairy farmer, Te Ore Ore, appealed against Tombs being called up on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. The appeal was adjourned until the first sitting of the board after May 1, 1942.