Times Hard for Objectors

CO's could appear before an Armed Forces Appeal Board, the decisions of which varied wildly from district to district. 'Appeal Board: Allowed 183 (35%); dismissed, 98 (19%); Dismissed and non-combatant service ordered, 244 (46%). Appeals decided by all other boards in New Zealand: Allowed 417 (16.4%); Dismissed, 1145 (45.2%); Dismissed and non-combatant service ordered, 973 (38.4%). All figures up to December 31, 1943.'

Even if they were registered as CO's they faced civil penalties.

"Conscientious objectors whose appeals were allowed come under the jurisdiction of a 'Special Tribunal' which ensured that they are employed 'on such work of a civil nature and under civil control as the public interest requires,' and that their financial position shall 'be no better than it would be if he were serving as a member of the Armed Forces.' All income above the pay and maintenance of a private soldier must be paid into the Public Account to the credit of the Social Security Fund. Teachers whose appeals are allowed are dismissed for their positions for the duration of the war. This applies also to the members of the staff of one University College (Canterbury).' (At least one present staff member, in the English Department, was penalised by the anti-CO measures of that University).

Those brought before a court could expect little mercy. 'A revealing statement of Mr Luxford, S.M. in laying down the principle the Auckland Court would follow in dealing with conscientious objectors appearing before it, is valuable here.

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According to the 'New Zealand Herald' of November 15, 1941, he said: 'When the Court finds that a person is a straight-out slacker he will go to prison. If he is betwixt and between he will go to prison for a shorter term and then be sent to a defaulters' camp. If he is just a poor misguided person with an inflexible idea, he will be sent straight to a defaulters' camp.' "

Prison conditions were harsh, (e.g. in July 1942, a CO in Mt Eden was given 10 days solitary confinement with break and water for refusing to salute the superintendent!). Conditions in the camps weren't all that much better.

There was a similar episode to this in the Hautu Detention Camp in the winter of 1944. In this camp a special compound containing single huts was set aside for punishment purposes, and a group of men who had refused to work in the camp were kept in solitary confinement on a reduced diet. This was a severe ordeal, as for 23 hours a day the men were confined in unheated huts, in the depth of winter in a very cold part of this country. One hour a day was allowed for exercise. The only recreational material allowed was the Bible or one educational book. Two men were kept in this state for three months, and others for somewhat shorter periods, before being transferred to gaol.'

The cost to the country in wasted production was high. This great waste, especially in time of shortage of food, is exemplified by the news (Christchurch 'Press', February 3, 1945) that a dairy farm in Taranaki of 200 acres had been completely out of production since the owner was sent to detention in September, 1942. At that time it was carrying 84 head of dairy cattle. The farm had been unattended all that time; the Minister of Agriculture refusing to take over the running of it as it might involve the Crown in a number of similar actions (sic.) '

The above quotes come from a 1945 pamphlet 'Penalties on conscience' by Lincoln Efford, a well known Chirstchurch pacifist.)