THE RETORT COURTEOUS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1443, 18 May 1912, Page 5

THE RETORT COURTEOUS.

■ -v —-—■ AUCKLAND ANTI-MILITARIST CIRCULARS, (By Tcloeraph.—Special CofrcßDondent.) Auckland, May 17. Something like an organised system of attack is being made 011 the compulsory trainllng schema introduced by the Government, and printed papers are being left at the ofiiccs of business and professional men asking assistance to lmvo tirnt Act removed from the Statute Book. One professional gentleman, who is tlio son of a soldier, instead of ignoring the matter, has courteously replied to the address given, stating that he could not subscribe to the views expressed ill the circulars. 31c adds: —

"It is acknowledged that those who are best fitted for slavish conditions always abuse the freedom that better men have won for them. That in my opinion is exactly what you and your partv are now doing—abusing the freedom fought for and won for you by 'better men.' Any male person (to distingiiifh him from a real man) who, not being nhysicaiiv unfit, refuses to qualify himself to holil and maintain the freedom lie enjoys and which was won for him by 'better men.' is unworthy of consideration, if such 'male persons" object to all obligations of citizenship existing in this country, I here is no lav,- that I know of to prevent their leaving it, and if they do so it is probible th.it I heir departure would cause little grief to those nsiuaiuiny. It iiovcn pwwibls that 'they ntrcr would lx) misso4'tt