Statements On Conscription Give Different Views

Chronicle (Levin), 9 July 1949, Page 5

Statements On Conscription Give Different Views

Press Associatioy,)

(Per

WELpI^G.TP^, Jujy 8. An appeal" to trade unionisfs to vote in'the interests of tfipjr cpuptry and' according to thei? copsipexjsp ip the ref ir.end«hi on conscrip.tion' w3-s made hy' the*' secretary of" the ZeaTand' Fe'ddratioji of clig,hour (Mr Mcli.' "Baxter j in a circiilar issued to - affiliatTous "to-day bnvbehalf of .the natidpal executive of the Fedej.atiqn. A statement was also inade to-day.' b,. Mr W.'B. Rachardsj" president' of ;the Otago Trades .Council, a ' niexhber* oi tlie executive' of the Otago Labour Re presehfatipn' Cpmmittee, and a membe: of the policy committee of the Federation' of Labopr. ile said'the committee b recpmmendation on the pplicy to the co'nf erence was that all trade unions op ppse peacetime conseription. Mr Baxter, in his eireula'r, said tha: the national conncil of the Federation of Labour deeided in February that tht question of compijlspry jnilijtary train ing be referred to its affiliations fo: decision and the apnugl cqnference,-and that no peaeetiipe cqpsqription be intro duced without a rqferendnpi of the peo ple. f'The national executive of tht Federation calls on .its affiliations and their membership not to' be drawn int collaboration with or be stampeded by self-appointed orgattisa|;ions' not direct ly assQciated with or responsible to thi trade union njoyejnent, ' '' Mr Bq,xte says. > ■ Mr Richards, ip. his statepient, sap he agreed 1 that all trade uriioniM'shqjild ' vote according to their con science. He would point ont, however that the cppsc'ien'ce of 'the Fea'eration as expressed By its policy committet was to oppo.se peacetime conseription He said the Ptago' Tfades Council ano the Otago Labour Represeptatiqn Com mittee were among many spct'ops o. the copimupity who copld see po reaso-i wfiatsoever why New Zealand shoulwaste rts resourees, disfupit ' production interfer'e witfi tfie careers of its youn_ men, ancf add at Iqast £17,900,090 t the annual burden of taxation with ai outdated. policy of milifary training a. this stage in world aff.airs.