R.S.A. Asks For Compulsory Service Without Holding Referendum

Chronicle (Levin), 22 June 1949, Page 5

R.S.A. Asks For Compulsory Service Without Holding Referendum

WELLINGTON, June 22. The view th^t thd holding of a referendum on- the issue of compulsory military service was unnecessary and even unfair was exnressed at today's: sessjon of the N.Z,R.S.A^ ■ confershse. The me'et- ' ing unanimously approved a motion that the- Domihion eouneil strpngly dis.approyed of the G.overnment's decisiorj. tq allow a referendum. • The motion stated that in view of the fact that the voting PUbfie could not be fufiy informed, . the council nrgpd tbe Government to reconsider the gituation, and introduce military service without deiay and without recourse to a referendum. Mr. K- W. Is. Glasgow, chal rm-an of thp. f?pfenee ernnmitte®, toM the unuforepee that it should press for a yerv clear expression of opinion. — > u^cmint of e^rfain pernicious su^os+jons that. he said, had been published to the effect that the rank, and file of the R.S.A. had not been wholeheartedly behind the

plan for compulsory military service, ... "We are concerned at the great deal of,loose thinking on the i§sue," said Mr. Glasgow/ "The term national has been used, That in the minds of many, people brings up all manner of bogeys in the way. of manpower in peacetime. Our policy is that there is no intention on the part of the R.S,A. that direction of the public should take place., "We do not know if- the decisipn of the Government to hold a referendum is irrevocable and it is the feeling of our defence committee that we should make an effort, evep at this late stage, to ask the Prime Minfster and the Goverhment to reconsider the decision to which it had eome," said Mr. Glasgow, "We feei most strongly that tVi subjefct of compulsory military service is an unfair issue to place 'pn the shouiders of the public, which. by the very nature of the projblem, cannot understand all the details and pros and cons."