AGAINST CONSCRIPTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2921, 6 November 1916, Page 4

AGAINST CONSCRIPTION

A LABOUR DEMONSTRATION. A meeting "to commemorate the victory for democracy by the Australian Labour movement was held last night in tho Alexandra Hall. About 450 people attended, including a. fair proportion of women.* There were young men in the audience, but there was no striking preponderance of them. The speakers were Mrs. Beck (representing the Women's International League), Mr. H. Holland (ilie Social Democratic Party), Mr. J. Hutclioson (the Bootmakers' Federation), Mr. J. M'Kenzie (the Labour Representation ' Committee), Mr. J. Thorn (the_ Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union), and Mr. J. Edwards (tho New Zealand AntiConscription League). Edwards is a youth of military age, and lie says that the majority cf the members of his league in Wellington are men of military age. The speakers all expressed great satisfaction'with the result of tho Australian referendum, and with the downfall of Mr. Hughos and his friends. All demanded the repeal of the New Zealand Conscription Law, and to bring about this end they called upon all Labour bodies to organise. Resolutions were passed expressing these sentiments. The two_ first_ resolutions to bo mov?d wore carried with only one dissentient, a young man. The third resolution, whicli merely provided for the forwarding of the two principal resolutions to the Acting Prime Minister and to Labour bodies, lie did not oppose. Possibly ho had left the hall in tho meantime.' On the second occasion on which the young man held up jus. hand sonio people in the audience displayed a little irritation or hostility, but before anything _ serious had boon said or done tho chairman (Mr- y ■ Hutcheson) appealed to tho audience to bo fair, and not to molest or otherwise annoy anybody who exercised the pnvilege he was invited exercise by voting against any resolution put to tho meeting. This appeal, mado as it was with tact and sincerity, put an end to that unpleasantness. Tho meeting concluded with tlirce cheers for Australia's victory," given at tho call of Mr. Holland.