§ Section two, sub-section (1), of the principal Act shall have effect as if there were added thereto the words "such an objection being expressed by a statutory declaration before two justices, or on the evidence orally or in writing before the tribunal of not less than two reputable persons that the applicant has and does hold a conscientious objection to any form of military service.
§ Clause brought up, and read the first time.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause be read a second time."
§ Mr. SNOWDENThis Clause which I move explains itself, and I need not make any further observations upon it.
§ Sir G. CAVEThe hon. Gentleman is quite right in saying that the point in his first Clause has been met; but the Clause which he has moved would make conscientious objections much more frequent than the Amendment last moved. As I think the point is more than covered by the discussion on the last Amendment, I will only say that we cannot possibly accept this Clause.
§ Mr. HOLTI submit that the only possible way to meet the case of the conscientious objector is to take his statement of conscientious objection. The real difficulty is that the Act itself assumes that the conscientious objector does not exist. It involves the collective conscience of the State against the conscience of the individual. The difficulty can only be dealt with by doing something illogical, even in the form of accepting this Amendment, or else by certain administration taking care that no hardship exists.
§ Question put, and negatived.