THOSE OBJECTORS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 142, 18 July 1929, Page 6

THOSE OBJECTORS

Per Press Association.

YTTITDDE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.CONFIRMATION ASKED FOR.

DUNEDIN, Last mght. At a meeting to-day of the Preshyterian Assembly's public questions committec , tlie following resolu— tions wero carried in reference to tlie Prime Minister's statemcnt in Parliament as reported in the press : — (1) The Presbyterian Assembly's public questions committee resi>ecttully asks for an assurance from the Prime Minister that the declarations of the YLinister of Justice given to the cleputation on July 10, regarding_ (a) 110 discrimination lietween clenominatious ot conscientious objectoi*s, and_ (b) early gazettal of alternative service as prescribed by the Governor-m-Couucil as laid dowri in the Defence Act of 1912, sliall be confirnied. (2) The committee urges that tlie Prime Minister's proposal to exempt divinity students (i.e., tliose studying with a view to the ministry) sliould be extended to all persons whose conscientious objections to military training and service are certified by trustwortliy witnesses, with due regard to obliga'tion to render alternative nonmilitarv service. The Presbyterian Churcli does not ask that students for the ministry sliould receive prefereu-/ tial treatment over otlier young men who may claim exemption on tlie grounds of conscience. (31 The committee points oui> tlie glariug anomaly of allowing the prcseiit licavy sentences and tkrcat of imprisonment to lie upon Richards and Miller while the justice of 'exempting suoh ohjectors is at the sarnc time acknowledged by the Prime Minister. The committee tlierefore respectfully asks the Prime Mimster to submit tliese cases to His Bxcellency the Gov-ernor-General, with a recommendation that he sliould review the sentences. (4) The conimjttee invites all Preshvteries of the Churcli to support this anpenl for tbe exercise of the prerogative of tlie Governor-General.