CONSCRIPTION FOR WAR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 12

CONSCRIPTION FOR WAR

"PEOPLE WILL BE CONSULTED"

MR E. J. HOWARD'S ANSWER TO' QUESTION

The view that no man in New Zealand would be conscripted in the event ot war until the people had been asked to decide on the issue was put forward by Mr E. J. ; Howard,. when answering a question at nfi raeefing at Aldington last evening. Mr Howard made it clear that he was voicing his own views.

The questioner asked Mr Howard if he would define the attitude of the Government on the conscription issue, which, he said, was still "on the Sta'tute Book." He had been asked about the question by many people. Would conscientious objection and religious objection be respected? "I am not dodging the issue when I reply that no one member of the party can answer that for the Government but Mr Savage, and I really doubt if he could," Mr Howard said. The questioner: Then that seemc strange. • v - «_ "I, as an individual, in common with the other. 59 members of the Parliamentary Labour Party, cannot commit all members to a statement on that issue. I think myself that there would be no- conscription. But can I say for the party that there will be none? I can only say, from my own knowledge of the inside working, of the movement that there would be none. The Labour Parly will never climb down from the position it has taken up. I can only say that from my own knowledge of the movement God knows what this may end in, of course. I cannot say for the Government that there will be no conscription. But I can say that there will be no conscription of men without conscription of money." (Loud applause.) • "I do not believe that men will be conscripted in New Zealand," Mr Howard added, "until- we have consulted the people. But if old England is in serious trouble we will stand byher." (Loud cries of "Hear, hear.")

'HVEW ZEALAND IS

READY »

CABINET IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH LONDON

•'Our little New Zealand is ready for any eventuality," said Mr E. J. Howard, Labour candidate for Chritchurch South, at his Addington meeting last ,night. He referred at some length to trW overseas crisis, and asserted that Hhe Dominion would play its part in "the event of the Empire feeing involved in trouble.

"We are all terribly sorry about this crisis,". Mr Howard said. "But if our nation goes to war little New Zealand will play her part. Our Cabinet is constantly in touch with London about the crisis. Night after night I have been, expecting to hear that Mr Savage has been called back to Wellington. Everything is being done to ensure that we will be able to work like a Rolls Royce. all together. We have done something for the defence of New Zealand. I cannot say what we have done, or give details. That would not be wise or playing the game. But I say that it has been done,' and you will accept the nod. If anything should happen, and God forbid it should happen in the East, little New Zealand will not be behind. We will be ready. We say that after three years we have the ship ready and in good condition and prepared for whatever happens. Let any croaker come along and say what he likes about that."