JEHOVAH’S WITNESS
1 APPEALS BY TWO MEMBERS ‘ DISMISSED. DECISION OF ARMED FORCES BOARD. t Two appeals on the ground of con--1 scientious objection were heard at today’s sitting of the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board from members of Jehovah’s Witness. Both were dismissed. , Appealing against general service on > the ground of conscientious objection, ■ Walter Read, surfaceman, said he was i a member of Jehovah’s Witness. He ' said he was entirely neutral and those • who took part with the warring nat- ■ ions would bring about their own destruction at the hands of Jehovah. He was not prepared to go to war at any time. s Appellant was submitted to d'searching cross-examination by Mr J. S. Wauchop, Crown representative. “Suppose the Japanese landed here. Would you carry on with your work or join those defending the country?” asked Mr Wauchop. “My job in the case of invasion would be to look after the railway lines,” replied appellant. Mr Wauchop: “The railways are vital to the defence of New Zealand. Why don’t you be honest and get out of the railways?” “That is what I would like to do but the railways won’t let me'go,” replied appellant. At the conclusion of the cross-exam-ination, Mr Wauchop stated that appellant had said he was prepared to use force in certain circumstances. Under no circumstances could a conscientious objector use force to kill. ~ “We have no hesitation in dismissing this appeal,” said Mr Lusk, chairman of the board. Clarence Olsen, road surfaceman, also appealed against general service on the ground of conscientious objection. He said he had made a solemn covenant to do the will of Almighty God, and could join no earthly organisation. He could not kill or do violence to any man. He was a member , of the Jehovah’s Witness. In reply to Mr Wauchop, appellant said he would render assistance to any person who he might find injured. Asked if he could not assist in a similar way in hospital, appellant said he could not because it was connected with the military. “If the Japanese were torturing one of your children would you stand up and not use a rifle?” asked Mr Wauchop. , Appellant: “There would be no such thing as torture as long as you have faith in Christ. You will never break our faith.” The appeal was dismissed.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1942, Page 4
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388JEHOVAH’S WITNESS Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1942, Page 4
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