REFUSAL TO REGISTER

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21204, 29 August 1940, Page 10

REFUSAL TO REGISTER

EXEMPTION FROM SERVICE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS (Times Air Mail Service) LONDON, July 18 Two young conscientious objectors —one aged 21, the other 22—refused to register for military service, states the Daily Mail. They refused to appear before their local tribunals. They would not “have anything to do with the machinery of the Military Training Act.” In their absence yesterday both men were granted complete exemption at the London Conscientious Objectors’ Appellate Tribunal. They were saved from the Army because the Ministry of Labour made an appeal for their release. The Ministry, it was stated at the tribunal, were convinced of their sincerity. They had both refused to “ recognise the machinery of the Act. But they appeared to be sincere.” The men, A. J. Porcas, aged 21, of Esme Villa, Dunbar Avenue, Norbury, S.W., and Harold Mayor, of Greenhill Grove, Manor Park, E., were both registered for military

service in their absence by their local tribunals. Explanations Given Last night I was given the explanation of one of the men—and the Ministry of Labour. Porcas, a member of the Peace Pledge Union, said: “ I have always refused to have anything to do with the machinery of the Military Training Act. I wrote to the Ministry of Labour on the day I was due to register and told them that I thought the Act was morally wrong and that I had no intention of registering. “ I also said that I would not attend at the local tribunal because I did not think that any tribunal had the moral right to sit in judgment on conscience.

“ I had a lengthy correspondence with the Ministry of Labour. They wrote asking me to go to their Whitehall offices.

“ I saw an official who explained the Act most clearly and the consequences if I ignored it. I persisted in my attitude.” This was the explanation of the Ministry of Labour. “ The men were interviewed by officials of the Ministry* They were convinced of their sincerity. The men were registered in their absence. The Ministry then decided to make them test cases. “ But,” added the official, “it is extremely unlikely that other objectors will receive similar treatment.”