LABOUR AND THE COMPULSION BILL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2786, 2 June 1916, Page 6

LABOUR AND THE COMPULSION BILL

RESOLUTION BY THE TRADES COUNCIL.

The Compulsion Bill was considered at a meeting of tne Trades and Labour Council last evening. A resolution, with a Lengthy preamble, expressing general , condemnation of the compulsory system was passed, the main points of tile resolution being as under:— "We -think the calling up of youths of 20 years is absurd and contrary to military opinion. I<W employers are prepared to pay a man's wage to workers at 20 years of" age. How can these youths be expected to stand the strain oi military work when they are deficient in stamina and have little to recommend 'them except youthful impetuosity ? Twenty-three should he the very lowest ago at which men should be accepted. _ "We insist on the Military Service being composed entirely, of civilians, The whole purpose and function of these boards are viewed with the greatest distrust. We feci that these ar? the tribunals by which the workers, poor and friendless, are to be pushed into the firing line, while other classes are to be privileged to claim and secure exemption. Politicians tell us that it will not lie so. Wo simply answer that we do not believe them. Distrust will be magnified a thousandfold if these boards are composed, wholly or in part, of military officers. "We object to employers having" any special privileges of appeal on behalf of any favoured employee, 'with or without his knowledge and consent.' ,o'learly this is a clause giving scope for endless abuse and intended to benefit private interests regardless of the military purpose of the Bill. And we object to the clause by which the Governor-in-Council may divide the' Second Division of the Reserve inio 'such classes as he thinks lit/ If Parliament insists on the military necessity for the Bill, then we insist "that there can, in justice, be only one class—the class of able-bodied men of military a o e without reference to rank or calling. "What can be said in favour of those clauses of the Bill by which,, in any prosecution, a man is presumed'to be guilty unless and until he proves himself innocent? We have always understood that the guiding principle of British justice was to presume innocence until guilt was proved. Surely military law and military authority are soulless enough without giving the further power to fasten guilt 011 innocent persons, throwing on the accused the onus of proving innocence. Finally, we protest against Parliament giving power to the Governor-in-Council to abolish the voluntary system. A system that has provided over 50,000 men, and which at its abolition may still bo providing all the men necessarv, should not he lightly cast aside. Members of Parliament will be failing in their duty to the country if they hand over their responsibilities in this matter to Cabinet. The authorities may pretend to believe that conscientious objectors and others will submit w\th good grace to this measure. They will probably learn wisdom by experience, and they will probably realise also that the abolition of the voluntary system was dangerous and illadvised. "We repeat the opinion that the Bill is not calculated to improve the military situation in the slightest. ' Its provisions will open up, endless avenues of favouritism and abuse. Compulsion will tend to disturb,the even tenor of public feeling. Industrial activities will be disorganised and our usefulness as a producing community will be considerably impaired. We trust that the measure will never be brought into operation." CARPENTERS' RESOLUTION. The following resolutions were passed by a meeting of the Amalgamated Society of Joiners and Carpenters last ..evening;— "That the voluntary system of recruiting has not beeu a failure. When the Government realise their duty and recognise the men's financial-unfitness whereby they are unable to go into camp on a beggarly pittanco of Js. per dav,. recruiting will be vastly accelerated.'^ "That the exploitation of the worker and the soldiers' dependants through the high cost of living, to which the National Government are a tacitly consenting party, is a dccided deterrent to the voluntary system." "That the action of the National Government, in introducing industrial matters into the Military Service Bill, is most unpatriotic, and is calculated to produce industrial friction, and t>v so doing defeat (he very ends for which the Bill was designed." "That the National Government should declare for an equality of sacrifice from all, and to that end should impose a tax ou war profits of 50 per cent., the same as has been done in England." "That the voluntary system lias not failed, and in view of the fact that tho value our exports is greater than any other country, there is therefore no reason why wo cannot pay our soldiers sufficient to induce all the men wo need to come in under the voluntary system, thus rendering compulsion unnecessary."