MILITARY BILL.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2792, 9 June 1916, Page 6

MILITARY BILL.

ALLEGED VIEWS OP LABOUR. Sir,—As there seems to be some doubt concerning the nature of last Sunday's meeting of unionists in the Trades Hall, I should like to state the true facts as .they appeared to me. As a unionist, I responded to the invitation advertised in the paper calling the meeting together, thinking naturally that tho object of the meeting was to discuss the Military Service Bill, but I hadn't been present very long beforo I discovered that the read object of the meeting was to condemn the Bill, and when, oil the invitation of the chairman, a Labour M.P. got up to speak on the Bill, he was immediately met with cries of, "Aro you in favour of the Bill ?" and on answering no, the gentleman in question was absolutely unable to make his voice heard above the din of (ian<tbmoniuni that reigned, in which cries of "Sit down, then," or'"Get outside," wero repeatedly heard. Another Labour member got up and pleaded for fair play, as did also tho chairman, and after a lot of

noise the first speaker eventually got a "hearing and sent home some good hard facts, although, of course, it was like pouring water on a duck's back. On# prominent lied Fed. advocated "dowu tools" immediately the Bill was passed, but one Labour M.P. asked the men to use reason, although eventually he apparently beeamo so disgusted with the noise and "hot air" that Im left the meeting to stew in its own juice. Sir, I say emphatically that the meeting was not representative of trade unionists, as most unionists, recognise that in spite of this Red Fed. agitation against "Prussiailism," as they term it, these same agitators aro the worst tyrants °uing when it comes to a matter of free' speech, if such speeches don't agree with, their own views, and knowing this, all sensible trade unionists give these Red Fed. meetings a wide berth, but if these Red Feds, really think they have the majority of unionists behind them, why don't they call for a secret ballot all over New Zealand, and so jnove to th« Government what the opinion of the workers is? In conclusion, I should like to point out that theso agitators are trying to make people believe that they have the soldiers behind them against conscription. ' If that is so, why don't they invite a few returned soldiers to come and say a word or two at their meetings?—l Rill, etc., A UNIONIST.