Effect on New Zealand Society
Those who objected to war were frowned upon by society as it was a mens duty to fight for his country. In societies eyes it was mans duty to step up to the challenge and fight for their country. Those who did not wish to 'fulfil mans duty' were outcasted by society. Those who refused to fight were both physically and verbally abused by their community members. However the extent of their communities hatred did not end there as their families would also feel the wrath of their fellow family members who are 'cowards'. The men would lose both their friends and their jobs as a result and by being in a relationship with such cowards so would their wives. Even children who's fathers had refused to go to war were frowned upon and second best to those children who's fathers had gone to war. This created a large divide in society. Those objectors who took a pacifist stance towards the war showed large diversity in the views of New Zealander's. Due to there being such a large number of objectors shows that there was a significant divide within the community and that a large group of New Zealander's felt the need to stay true to their morals. This shows us as historians the personalities of many NZ's in comparison to others and how they were so devoted to their beliefs that they would go through anything to stay true to them. It is also evident that during this time most of New Zealand's leaders (besides Labour members) did not take a pacifist stance towards war. This shows us that the attitudes of many New Zealander's was either pacifist or non pacifist and the divide between the two was very significant. This divide led to both the military and government trying to force the objectors to conform by making them endure the harsh punishments of being forced into uniform, solitary confinement, 1/2 rations, prison, hard labour and loss of civil rights.
The New Zealand government then took action in response to conscientious objectors by putting in place new laws. This was carried out as a result of people attempting to flee to Australia where it was not yet compulsory to participate in war. As a result it was necessary for all New Zealand members to attain passports. Later to further oppose objection, the Military service act was put in place to meaning men between the age of 20 and 46 were needed to go to war as New Zealand was not meeting the required number of soldiers. This was a result of there being so many objectors in the first place. This set the standard for the Second World War and therefore wars that were to come in the future. This shows that the conscientious objectors of World War One set the standard for those men who would be the future soldiers of New Zealand. However in 1928 the 'No More War Movement' was established by Fredrick Page, influenced by a British group. New Zealander's who signed this declared that "War is a crime against humanity. I am therefore determined (a) not to support or take part in any war and (b) to work for total disarmament, the removal of all causes of war and the establishment of a new order based on pacifist principals for the common good". A petition was then created in order to oppose compulsory military training but was unsuccessful regardless of the 15,00 who had signed it. In July of the 1930's, however compulsory military training was suspended.
It is evident that attitudes towards war have changed because there is a large amount of people who sign up voluntarily to fight overseas in wars that don't necessarily need to involve New Zealand. However it is obvious that there will always be some people who are not willing to fight for certain reasons. This is not as big of a deal in todays world because there are enough volunteers to participate in war so forced conscription is not needed. But if another war was to occur that needs more people and some don't want to fight for pacifist or other reasons then there is no doubt that the same consequences would need to be put in place to enforce people to sign up.
The effect of the conscientious objectors stance had a large impact on future males to come as there were now great expectations for those to fight as a result of how conscientious objectors were despised for objecting in the past. This is evident as the number of conscientious objectors from World War One to World War Two in New Zealand decreased by 798. It is evident that the harsh consequences the CO's of WW1 faced had a large impact as there was such a significant drop in numbers. As a result of the conscientious objectors there is less focus on being a militant country as New Zealand's military force is only used for peace keeping and humanitarian reasons. This has resulted in New Zealand adopting s more peaceful approach to war, after the conscientious objectors influence and is nuclear free. This shows that New Zealand has adopted the idea that war does not solve everything.
Here are some links to further reading about New Zealand in the war:
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/MikeSubritzkyNZwarpoet_09.html
http://www.nzonscreen.com/collection/world-war-one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEtNKCtjI2w
The New Zealand government then took action in response to conscientious objectors by putting in place new laws. This was carried out as a result of people attempting to flee to Australia where it was not yet compulsory to participate in war. As a result it was necessary for all New Zealand members to attain passports. Later to further oppose objection, the Military service act was put in place to meaning men between the age of 20 and 46 were needed to go to war as New Zealand was not meeting the required number of soldiers. This was a result of there being so many objectors in the first place. This set the standard for the Second World War and therefore wars that were to come in the future. This shows that the conscientious objectors of World War One set the standard for those men who would be the future soldiers of New Zealand. However in 1928 the 'No More War Movement' was established by Fredrick Page, influenced by a British group. New Zealander's who signed this declared that "War is a crime against humanity. I am therefore determined (a) not to support or take part in any war and (b) to work for total disarmament, the removal of all causes of war and the establishment of a new order based on pacifist principals for the common good". A petition was then created in order to oppose compulsory military training but was unsuccessful regardless of the 15,00 who had signed it. In July of the 1930's, however compulsory military training was suspended.
It is evident that attitudes towards war have changed because there is a large amount of people who sign up voluntarily to fight overseas in wars that don't necessarily need to involve New Zealand. However it is obvious that there will always be some people who are not willing to fight for certain reasons. This is not as big of a deal in todays world because there are enough volunteers to participate in war so forced conscription is not needed. But if another war was to occur that needs more people and some don't want to fight for pacifist or other reasons then there is no doubt that the same consequences would need to be put in place to enforce people to sign up.
The effect of the conscientious objectors stance had a large impact on future males to come as there were now great expectations for those to fight as a result of how conscientious objectors were despised for objecting in the past. This is evident as the number of conscientious objectors from World War One to World War Two in New Zealand decreased by 798. It is evident that the harsh consequences the CO's of WW1 faced had a large impact as there was such a significant drop in numbers. As a result of the conscientious objectors there is less focus on being a militant country as New Zealand's military force is only used for peace keeping and humanitarian reasons. This has resulted in New Zealand adopting s more peaceful approach to war, after the conscientious objectors influence and is nuclear free. This shows that New Zealand has adopted the idea that war does not solve everything.
Here are some links to further reading about New Zealand in the war:
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/MikeSubritzkyNZwarpoet_09.html
http://www.nzonscreen.com/collection/world-war-one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEtNKCtjI2w