FOR AND AGAINST

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3060, 23 April 1917, Page 6

FOR AND AGAINST

'-'CONSCRIPTION DISCUSSED SOME HABD HITTING A vigorous defence of conscription was made by ; Mr. L. M-. Isitt, M.P., in a speech delivered •by him < at Christonurch in connection _ with the municipal elections in.that city. "I deserted Voluntaryism," said >, Mr. Isitt, "because after it had been in operation tnree_ months we saw that instead of it being equitable and democratic it was-tlie most inequitable and most undemocratic way of dealing with the position. I challenge you to deny any one of these points that I make. Voluntaryism is a net that catches all the noble, all the brave, all the chivalrous men ill this Domin-, ion, and sends them to fight while it lets slip through its meshes all the wasters, all the cowards, and all the selfish men who are content to stay behind and let others fight for the defence of' their liberties and their "country. (Applause.) More than that, it leaves these degenerate weaklings to breed the future nation to occupy the land. Can you deny it? A voice: "So does war." Mr. Isitt: "Wait a moment. Voluntaryism seizes upon the chivalrous man with a wife and family and sends him to fight and"leayes the single man alone to be fought for.

The Five Boys. "And look here.' Voluntaryism takes five boys out of one family and leaves the mother without a single supporter, and at the same time allows five boys in:another family to remain behind. Can you deny it? Then the 'Maoriland Worker' and some Labour men at the time when they were not in love with voluntaryism, made a song about .voluntaryism permitting an'employer 'to practically compel his employees to enlist, while leaving his own sons at hotfie—sending the poor man to fight to defend property. But they can't do it now. "A-"voice: "They do it now—read the appeal cases'." ■ " ■ Mr. Isitt: "If you tell me that some slip through, I say. yes, but I that so far as the system is concerned conscription does not recognise aiiy difference between rich and poor—you cannot get away from that fact. (Hear, hear.) , So convinced am I of the justice of conscription that all I reeret is that I did not take an earlier and more vehement stand .for it.

What Objections? "Now"—addressing tho, interrupter at the rear—"l want to.' ask you— What have you against conscription? What is the great objection that you feel towards it?",. Silence prevailed. "Well, now, surely you would not take up such a strong position unless you had some outstanding objection to it?" More silence and laughter, but at, last tho 'interrupter said: "Why should a man be compelled to fight if he doesn't want to—(laughter)—to go and fight for the capitalists who are robbing the people at the present time?" ' •-.■ Mr. Isitt: "I expected it. You object to conscription because it infringes the liberty of the subject. And yet is not the whole of your Labour legislation infringements upon the liberty of the individual?" , . •' • The voice: "You don't have to get killed, though." . : ■ Mr. Isitt: ,"Is it not' a fact that so far as the Labour unions are concerned any man, his wife and child) can starve if he won't join the unions ? (Applause.) Is it not a fact? You compel the manufacturer to do one hundred and one tilings—in every way'you restrict the liberty of the individual for the good of the community. Your position is that while the life of the Empire is - threatened —while our women and children would suffer at the hands of the Hun if heswero victorious, and all the privileges of the worker vanish—any man still has the rijiht to stand aside and say 'let the other.men do the fighting. 1 That is noble— that is magnificent—that is a manly stand to take up'in the name of liberty. (Applause.) Suppose a, band of Indians attacked a prairie convoy,: and some men- said: 'Oil, we don't want to fight'—wouldn't the others say: 'Well, get'out and be tho first victims ?' " (Laughter.) The voice: "Thai/is different." Lack of Imagination. "You say .-.it is different," replied Mr. Isitt, "only because you lack imagination—because the Hun is not in New Zealand, but in Belgium, because it is not your wife that has been violated by a drunken Prussian, or your child that has been murdered by ruthless soldiery. That will be our fate if we lose. Where will the privileges of the worker be.then?" The voice: "There are Huns here." Mr. Isitt:, ."Huns here! If you had Huns here, whai would they do with the men on strike, with the men who are trying in 101 ways to hamper our defence? They would raiige them against a brick wall and ehoot them down once for all."' (Applause.)