Viewpoints On Compulsory Military Service

Chronicle (Levin), 30 July 1949, Page 4

Viewpoints On Compulsory Military Service

q If New Zealand was worth havipg it 'was worth defending, even to the death. Many arguments had been raised against conscription, but these were bogeys in every sepse of t'he world, — Mr. J. Mathfeson, M.P., speaking in Levin. o It was too late to start preparing for war after it had started. Every property owner took precautions and ipsured against fire, It was necessary theji to insure against war and the only insurance agamsL annihilation or slavery was lO be prepared. — Mr. N. M. Thomson. & Ih the 1930's Britain could not say stop to Musso ini or Hit.er in a voice they understood, and in eonsequence had to pay the price of war. We must be strqng and rernain strong or face the same agaip. — Mr, J. R, Marshall, M.P., speaking in Levin. o Statistics show that only one in every 200 of the male population will be invofved in the defence scheme. That is the answer to those who say that corhpuisor^ training will cause disruption in industry, It is urgent that everyone goes to the poll and votes on this question, which is of vital importance to New Zealand.— Mr. E. R. Winkler, speaking at the annual meeting of the Levin Racing Club. 9 Every anxiety formerly expressed and criticism reasonably made, still remains the fundamental poliey of this assoeiation buc 1 personally, and the majority of the delegates present, were not pre-' pared to obstruct what is now officially admitted to be inadequate but at least the preliminary step towards the defence scheme we still desire most earnestly. — Mr. Kepneth Melyin, president of t'he 2nd N.Z.E-F. Assoeiation, after annouhcing its change of heart in favour of the scheme. • Our greatest contribution tc world peace would be to form a peace-loving community. We have a proud record of peace and progress and if the worid could assimilate our view it would be a great contribution. — Mr. J. Hogan speakmg against the proposal at Palmerston North. 9 There is only one real means of preventing war and that is by real and true disarmament. We should send a standard bearer into the world proclaiming world peace and security. — Mr. F. Langstone, M.P., speaking against the proposal at Palmerston North. 9 We beiieve that the imposjtion of conscription in New Zea:and as a reply to war preparations elsewhere will only serve to establish here militarised and totalitarian natiohal life, under which' human personality is being debased in so many other countries. The peace of the world can never be attainea by extending the system of pitting military strength against military strenguh. — RReligipus Society of Friends' CQuakers') ' viewpoint.