ANTI-CONSCRIPTIONISTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1191, 28 July 1911, Page 7

ANTI-CONSCRIPTIONISTS.

ORGANISING THEIK '■FORCES. A meeting of those opposed to the Compulsory Training Act was held at Godber's I'ooms last evening. There were, roughly spiaking, about 100 persons present, including a fairly strong following o£ young men, who attended as opponents ul the "anti-conscriptionists." Mr. W. S. Bedford presided. Before the meeting was declared open, a Mr. Freeman, who had taken a prominent part at tho meeting of tho anti-conscriptiohists" held at His Majesty's Theatre on Sunday nipht, suggested to the chairman that ii any of those present were not in favour of the objects of the meeting, they should either leave the room or remain silent spectators of the proceedings. The chairman explained that Sunday night's meeting was a meeting of the Anti-Conscription. League, not a Socialist meeting. Ho was not a member of . that, league, but hod presided oyer the proceedings in response to an invitation, and because he was in sympathy with its aims.' "If," lie said, "the press can get a black paint mark against us, and daub us as Socialists, they think .they have daniued us. This is not a purely Socialist, movement, but a movement of all classes." Dr. ConzenS then moved that an anticonscription league be formed. The motion was seconded by Mr. Henry Bodley. . , „ - There was a good deal of irrelevant talk, and interruption. A member of tho opposition pointed out that the chairman was labouring under some misapprehension with regard to the clauses of the Act, when lie quoted the provisions for tho appointment of officers, and referred to the Officers' Training Corps. That corps had bcon abolished, and the avenues of promotion wero open lo all. He was there as an objector to the Act, in that he be-, lie.ved the Act did not. go far enough. Finallv, the motion.was passtsd, and the. opposition left the room, pausing at the door to sing, "God Save the King. C'hocY? were givou for tHo Compulsory Training .Act, and for the Empire, to which the "anti-conscriptionists"'respond-ed jflith hoofs and groans. LTft to themselves, the opponents of military training proceeded to the election of officers, the "result being as follow:— President, Mr. AY. S. Bedford; secretafy, Mr. F. Freeman; treasurer, Dr. Couzens; committee, Messrs. Bbdloy, Miller, Dee, AUlis, Josephs, and White. It was,resolved lo organise a demonstration of welcome to the boy Cornish ■when ho comes out of goal on Thursday next, either at the gaol gate, or a,t tho Queen's Statue.