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The effect of the war on New Zealand and on New Zealanders was heavily felt. Families were torn apart having to give up their children to go to war. As we can see from this registration act all male people fit to go to war had to this move from the government would hurt alot of NZ families as they would know their child may never come back. Because of this about one tenth of NZ's population left to go to war at the time NZ was a small nation with only one million people. The women then because of the absence of men in their family had to take up the men's jobs to earn money to support their family. This meant that women started to work on farms ( as seen on the image below) some worked in factories making the weapons and war equipment needed by the men. Many New zealanders approached the war with great enthusiasm to support then men who went to war. Many New zealanders donated goods or money to help the soldiers fighting in the war. Ruth Swanson ( as shown in the picture below ) was one of these New zealanders who donated her cherished lamb in an effort to support NZ's war effort, the lamb raised over 36 pounds equivalent to around $5400 now. At the time of the war there were more than 900 associations who helped the soldiers at war these associations played a huge role in helping the war effort. Many women formed associations in an effort to support the soldiers fighting in the war. Annette said " At this moment of our Empire's needs I appeal to the women of New Zealand to assist me In trying to provide any necessaries which may be required for.. the citizen army .. My suggestion would be to start a fund In every centre under a small committee of ladies" . -1- Women took up this call and by the next day over 250 women helped her in this cause and according to the evening post they sewed them into ' all sorts of hopes and fears'. Also there was the negative view on conscientious objectors. Unsurprisingly many NZer's looked down upon these people who refused to fight in the war. As per the registration act all fit males had to go to war however some religious people who were pacifists such as Quakers, christadelphians were exempted from the compulsory military service. Other Conscientious objectors faced heavy punishments such as imprisonment for up to two years forced to do hard labor. Some objectors were shipped overseas this included Archibald Baxter who got punished by being tied to a flagpole while in freezing conditions. The cartoon below shows how people were trying anything to get out of going to war and how people tried to be a Quaker so they would not go to war. Even after the war New Zealand was the only country to deny conscientious objectors voting rights or employment in public service for about 10 years. This Clearly shows how serious New Zealand was towards the objectors.
-1- http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/womens-fundraising
-1- http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/womens-fundraising