§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that John Robinson, a young man residing at South Shields, was called up for military service on the 1st January last; that he has since been sentenced by district court-martial to imprisonment as a conscientious objector; and that he is now in Wormwood Scrubbs; whether is aware that this young man was a smallholder; can he say if the land he cultivated is now lying derelict and l½ acres of foodstuffs are being destroyed through lack of labour; and, if so, whether, in the interests of the national food supply, this man will be returned to work his holding?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONInquiries have been made into this case which had not previously been brought to my notice. John Robinson registered under the National Registration Act as an assistant grocer, not as a smallholder. He only took the small holding in the year 1916. His application to the local tribunal for exemption from military service was dismissed. On appeal the Appeal Tribunal granted him exemption till 25th November, 1916. His application for renewal of this exemption was dismissed by the tribunal as he had no practical agricultural knowledge. His holding was not then in crop nor in preparation for the coming season. The agricultural representative at the tribunal did not consider him essential as50W the holding could easily be worked by his father, who is of middle age, leaving his mother and sister to look after the grocer's shop. As Robinson, having ceased to hold any exemption, failed to report to several calling up notices, he was eventually handed over by the Civil Court as an absentee. In these circumstances no exceptional action will be taken in his case.
§ Mr. R. LAMBERTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private J. B. Saunders, No. 315090, lst/6th Royal West Sussex, M.F.F., Egypt, a conscientious objector to military service, was sentenced at Portobello by court-martial to one year's imprisonment for refusing military service; that Saunders suffered ill-treatment at the hands of the military while in confinement, including solitary confinement and semi-starvation; and that applications on behalf of chaplains to be allowed to visit the man were refused; whether he has been sent to Egypt; and whether he will say why this man was not handed over to the civil prison authorities in common with other conscientious objectors?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have found considerable difficulty in identifying the soldier named by my hon. Friend's question, but I have ascertained that a Lance-Corporal James Bauldry Saunders, of the 103rd Training Reserve Battalion, was tried at Portobello Barracks on the 10th November last for "desertion" and "while in arrest escaping." He was sentenced to undergo one year's detention. I cannot admit that Saunders has suffered ill-treatment whilst undergoing his punishment. Such treatment as he has been receiving has been in accordance with the Rules for Detention Barracks and Military Prisons. He has not been sent to Egypt, as is stated in the question. My hon. Friend will recognise that Private Saunders became Lance-Corporal. Saunders in a fighting unit, and his conscientious objections were first brought to-the notice of the War Office through reading this question.