Political/social Objectors
Political objectors opposed conscription because they believed that World War 1 was a war between capitalist nations. They believed that there was no dispute between the average New Zealand worker and the average German worker and, in this war where majority of the soldiers were workers, the workers were being exploited. These objectors wanted either the Military Service Act to be abolished or have a ‘conscript of wealth as well as men’. That is, to take money from the rich in New Zealand (conscription of wealth) and use it to help with the war effort and better the pay and lives of any soldiers. These ideals are especially evident through the manifesto Labour produced in 1916 which states that "conscription is desired, not so much for the purpose of winning the war, as to effectively how the workers in subjection when the critical after-war period is reached". Though its main argument against conscription appears to be the lack of conscription of wealth, Labour also argues against conscription because "where only some are forced to give their lives for the country, no quality of sacrifice is possible". Thus, would Labour still hold the same position had there been a conscription of wealth as well?
The cartoon to the left depicts the view of the newspaper the Maoriland Worker, a newspaper which depicted the views of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (a left-wing political party) in regards to conscription. To the left is Prime Minister Massey and we see that he is holding and helping to twist the worker and ‘milk’ profits out of him. From this we can understand that the view of the Labour party was that the conscription of men was something which the wealthy took advantage of to make them even wealthier. This was done in the expense of the worker (hence the depiction of the worker being wringed). What Labour wants is for wealth to be conscripted instead.
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Religious Objectors
Most Christian churches did not stand up for Christian people -the churched remained loyal to the government and Britain and supported the war effort and encouraged men to enlist. This can be seen through the views of the Catholic Church. In an article above, which states how it is "thoroughly at one with the Government in its effort to give every assistance to the Empire in this unhappy war". However, in saying this, the Church had also "object[ed] to the conscription of [their] clergy and religious", citing that they are "forbidden by both ecclesiastical and civil law to take part in warfare". This appeal of the Church essentially goes against the idea of an 'equality of sacrifice' which the conscription was based for.
Instead the objectors were mainly fundamentalists and came form:
Most of these objectors were guided by the Old Testament and, though believing the the war was inspired by God, Christians were not meant to take part in the war. Some would not fight because they would not acknowledge even temporary authority.
Other religious objectors were pacifists as well and would not fight because they wanted to follow the commandment "Thou shalt not kill".
Instead the objectors were mainly fundamentalists and came form:
- Ingathering of the Israelites of the House of David
- Society of the House of Grail
- Unity Society of Practical Christianity
- Community of the Son of God
- One True Church
Most of these objectors were guided by the Old Testament and, though believing the the war was inspired by God, Christians were not meant to take part in the war. Some would not fight because they would not acknowledge even temporary authority.
Other religious objectors were pacifists as well and would not fight because they wanted to follow the commandment "Thou shalt not kill".
Maori O bjectors
The refusal of the Maori people to enlist their objection against conscription arises mainly from their sense of injustice over the confiscation of their land by the Pakeha and the promise of their Maori king not to fight again.
They tell us to fight for King and country, well that's alright. We've got a King. But we haven't got a country. That's been taken off us. Let them give us back our land and maybe we'll think about it again." The passing of the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863 meant that any Maori who had fought against the British would have their land confiscated. This became a significant grievance of the Maori following the confiscation of (almost) 500 000 hectares of fertile lands from King Tawhiao and his followers and is one of the main reasons why the Waikato Maori refused to enlist and objected to the extension of conscription to Maori.
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In 1881, King Tawhiao declared that the Maori from the Wailkato would not fight again following the ceasefire between the Maori and the British colonial government.
This pledge of the Maori King became one of the key reasons for the refusal of Maori to enlist as the Maori in Tainui-Waikato believed that, to honour this pledge, they should not fight ever again |
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Amongst the different kinds of objectors, pacifists/moral objectors were amongst the minority. These people were people who believed that force or coercion should not be used to settle disputes. Rather than killing and harming one another, one should use a peaceful approach to settle the argument between the nations
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In April 1916, an uprising arose in Dublin as Irish nationalist attempted to forcefully take control of Ireland. These people felt the the British government (who ruled over them) did not listen to their complaints and that they were being oppressed by the Britain. Though the attempt failed, it resulted in the British becoming the enemy of the Irish nationalist and these people made up the Irish objectors – objectors who refused to fight in the war because doing so would help Britain
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