THE OTAKI SEAT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2328, 9 December 1914, Page 9

THE OTAKI SEAT

MR, ROBERTSON AND ANTIMILITARISM. '

Just at present when everyone is impressed with tho need for an efficient defence system, the electors of Otaki will road with particular interest the following from the Auckland "Herald" : Where are the "anti-militarists" of whom wo hoard so ranch a fow months ago? 'What'are \\\sn late members 0 f Parliament who so fiercely condemned tlia compulsory clauses of the Defence Act in regard tp universal training saying now? Tliey have not a word to say against universal training now, and the word "anti-militarist" has vanished from their vocabulary. Mr. Russell and Mr. Isitt and others wh,Q pandered to 'the "anti-militarists" and the "shirkera" have had to eat their former words, Mr. Robertson, the late sitting "Bed Fed" member, for Otaki, is another member of this class. In January last Mr. Robertson took a leading part in an "anti-'niilitarist" meeting which was held in Auckland under the auspices of the self-styled "New Zealand Freedom": League," the object of which was to secure the repeal of the compulsory sections of the Defence Act. TSo meeting was convened by an advertisement headed "The Military Menace to Democracy." Mr. Robertson, at the close of the meeting, moved a resolution to the effect that the meeting call upon, the Government "to repeal the compulsory olauses of the Defence Act, under whioh an antiquated militarism is heing instilled into the youth of the Dominion. ■ It further calls upon the Government to open up friendly negotiar tions with the nr.t)yes of the. East under which amicable agreements in reference to mutual immigration may be included, and thus remove the excuse for armaments in the Pacific," This motion was carried with nine dissentients. One of the latter was Mr. Wm. Richardson, who moved an amendment to the effect, that the' meeting, whilst deploring war, was of opinion that it was highly necessary, in the interests of every part of the Empire, that "it should -be prepared to defend itself if occasion arose.' Jlo said that ''they all had to bear in mind, the lessons of the past, anc| to pay heed tp the warlike preparations that w ef o being made by certain nations, who desired elbow-room on the earth."