MR. FLYERS HECKLED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1437, 11 May 1912, Page 5

MR. FLYERS HECKLED.

> WOMEN AND DEFENCE. A VOLUBLE DEPUTATION. CHORUS OF INTERJECTIONS, (By foleiTßpii-Press Association.) t Christehurcti, May 10. A deputation of womeu weited on (l>l Hon. A, M. Myers, Minister for Dcfeuw, to-day oa the subject of military truin--6 ing. It was %'ory evident that some oi t those present took a merely theoretical interest in tho question. On tho other hand there were those who, as mothers oi a lads who had suffered' imprisonment, iclt a very poignant interest, 'i'ho interview was a 'remarkable one. Some of tli« 1 speakers stated their views with a voiubil'i ity and extravagance of language which b took away from tho deputation's protest 1 any dignity it might have had. , The deputation was introduced by the Rev. L. It. lsitt, M.l'. Quite a number, 3 of women insisted on speaking, tiad the Minister attempted unsuccessfully to stem i the torrent of speeches. Finally, he rose 1 and insisted on making his reply, Hβ , said that he hilly recognised the earnest spirit of tho speakers. This was certainly tho most frank deputation he had ' over received. When ladies took up any s matter that appealed to their consciences , there was no one more in earnest. Hβ • was not surprised at their oarues'-noss, 1 and neither was ho surprised at their extravagant language. 1 Tho Minister was not allowed to pro- • ceed very far before a babel of dissent ! broke out, and remarks of a painfully l frco 6ort were addressed to him from a. section of the audience. Quite a numi bcr oi: ladies, who wcro taking the sffftir quietly, sat back and smiled. -Finally, ' Mr. lsitt rose, and made a remonstrance, ■ aud Mr. Myers was 'allowed to proceed. Mr. Mver's went on to say that personally, having lost his father nt an early age, ho had been in a position fully to ' appreciate the cara of a good mother. He 1 recognised thnt women were more direct- ■ lv and indirectly interested than men in tho Act. Ho intended to speak very , fr.inkl,r to them. They resented en- , croacluncnls on their rights and privileges, but they must recognise their responsibilities. Tho system .. had . been . brought iii to keep this free country freer, and to keep it as free as possible. An incredulous whistle cam?, from the audionee-it may have been from one of the ladies. . ~ ~ , , t Mr Myei's. resuming,'said tnat he oelievcrt tht! defonce system would strengthen parental control over the young. , Ti' ; « w.-h greyed with anolncr outburst of dissent, and some vigorous ' Noes! Mr 'Ivors replied that parental contiol wns waning. There was nothing more cMciliated to strengthen it than, the hscipline Use boys would loam m camps. This evoked a frantic outburst, and cnos This, he said, was an age of great armaments. The more they were prepared for war. the loss likely they were to get it. "It means more war!" the deputation C °"A "rriiiie 'Minister can betray bis eon* try!" someone cried. , Mr Myers said he intenuwl to carry out his duty. Hβ declined to consider the defence question from tlie point of noli(S expediency. He would not do that with any question so far as he was concerned. In spite of the threats of wipim- out the Liberal party and mping out himself, the law would be carried out. The deputation could put people m power to represent them and the law would.be B There was another noisy demonstration though several of the leaders called for silence and appreciated tho Ministers statement of tho case, ; Mr Mvcrs appealed to the deputation not to be obsessed with their own. pome of view. He hoped that they,woukl.iisV«r have a foreign foe hero carrying out atrocities which he could not refer to in the presence of womon.- Thero was no sucn thins as conscription. "It is conscription! camo tne reply. "You have made up your mind?, said Mr, Jfyors. "The training is to help our mon to ropol nn invasion of onr nearths and homes." ' , . "Rot!" was tho elegant, interpolation by ■a lndy with a strong voice. Mr. Myora took exception to this, im<Tjeetion, "and several nieniliers of the deputation indicated their displeasure. - ". ~ Mr. Myers concluded tho interview witha very definite statement: ".So long us I am Defence Minister, and a member .of Parliaraont and consider that the Act is in the best interests of the comimim y I intend to support it." He regretted the display of feeling, and advised the ladies to look on all sides of the question. . "Wβ have been reading the miiitarj journals," one of them retorted. . * TRADES COUNCIL - DEPUTATION, "DHASTIC STEPS" THREATENED, Christehurcti, May 10. v The Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister fo.i Defence, received a deputation of antimilitarists to-day. Tho deputation was • introduced by Mr. George Witty, .M.P.; Mr. D. Q- Sullivan, representing tn« Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, said that in view of the answer Riven by the Minister, (he position to-day vas.awk. ward, but as they regarded tho Act as an iniquity, they availed themselves of every reasonable and constitutional menus of, impressinif their view on the public, be • contended that (ho people had had no opportunity of expressing their opinion on the compulsory clauses. Ii they- urn thero would be an overwhelming majority against them. The Trade? Council did- - not discount necessity for defence, or say that their families, their country, or their liberties wore not worth defending, but taking info consideration 'ho temperament of the people, an infinitely y.'urecontpmial system could be evolved if it were left lo' volnnt.iry service. This wm a matter which trnnrcended the to?nnicnl oninion of the expert. Tney were convinced Iliat the compulsory scheme ■• was inimical to the bsst interests of their ennntry, both from the view of uofence and tho moral, wieial, and physicni v.clfaro of tho ccmnlry. M.V. G. K. Whilin?, wlio.alfo represcnled the Trades Council, snid that ho wii-hert to bo frank with (he Minister.. He assured him thnt (hero were going "to be drastic s!*ps taken by t!ic wase-cariiers if tho Government did not do sonifithinp to repeal the compulsory clause*. A very largo number of Vμ people of flifl country'wwo opposed to tho Act. Thi'y lmii no more intention of hiiving coii'criptinn Riiy more than the Knsli<ii people would liavo it. Tho workim,' clns»es were not opposed to a voluntary defence force. They wow not shirkers, but (hcv would bo prepared !o \aVe up arms <im.l defend their wives find children if it were at any time needed. Sovornl other spea'wrs werp henr'il. Tho Minister, in reply, silid he wne ; pleased to meet, tho deputation, as he understood Chrisichiirch was tho 'mmc nf the nnti-inililarist jnovoinont. Hβ took a different view of higher obligations nf citizenship. -One rpoalwr liari snid J-linfc , Hie Act w.-is rontmry to tho spirit of tho Great Master. Ho'respected (lint opinion, but personally be lielii'vcd Hint tho Act was in thobest intevcets nf the ponr>lo, and as long as he wns MinisVr for Defence ho intecded to see it carried sut. DEFAULTERS RELEASED FROM GAOL, Auckland, May 10. Twelve anti-militarist youths, who sleeted to go to Mount Men Gaol _ tor . seven days, instoad of paving the fines imposed upon thorn for Initinft lo romply ivith the provieions of tiio. Defence Aci, mvo paid tho penalty of imprisonment. It least two of them left the" institution Kitigfied of llioir folly, nccofrlin.? lo in'crmntion obtained by a. roporior this noniiiig, and they express themselves ns s lftvinff "had enough" of the movement' to ivado their Eliare in iWl'cnee of (ho couiiry. Whereas dome of tho number ore iiclined to nesnme the air of nini'l.vw, hero iwo oth*re who iiilmit that I'hoy save been unirise. They staio that while ' i! gaol they were kept apart from (ho ither prisoners, being given work in dif... erent quarters. Their colli wcro also noro isolated, Oilierxrisc tliev had to onforn; with Blrictnoss to the prison" egulations in the matter of wearing (piol lothee, having their ti-nffor-prip.ts and hoir photos taken, but this they had xpoctod btrforo going into pxol. The jrrofllditut of the Prisons,Mnard (Sir (Pbwt flteati, brfoKi Uayleu Auckland

to-day, was askooV by pressmen whether the cases of any anti-militarist youths had come before the board during its eittinga here. Sir Robert Stout replied • in tho negative, and explained that only .prisoners undergoing „ reformatory treat;-, ment were dealt withVby tho .hoard. 'Ho did not hesitate tC'e-Miress: tlfo option, that such youths were misguided, and that if they wore not prepared'to assist in defending the-country tl\at conferred privileges on themY'thcy should gracefully retire, 6oy, to Gerraany, Russia, or lomo other country. Sir Robert btout jiade it quite clear, however, that ho had <very respect for tho religious convictions of strict sects, but he thought provision should be made for these to serve in tho nursing or ambulance divisions. Ho agreed that if,,the ..country was. worth living in it wasTvorth, protecting."