STRIKERS AND CONSCRIPTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3063, 26 April 1917, Page 6

STRIKERS AND CONSCRIPTION

(To the Editor.) Sir,—On reading of the account of the coal strike in your''paper this morning, it has occurred to me_that the inconsistency of the conscription laws generally is responsible for a great deal of the present trouble. One portion of -our men is conscripted, snd they have to go and fight, whether they want to or not. The wealth of the country is also conscripted—those with an income have to pay—they have no choice. Why not also conscript labour ? Why should a certain; body of men— a mere handful—be allowed to be the autocratic dictators of the land? The men referred to are exempt from fighting for their country; they are earning a high wage, or they can if they choose. Yet they presume to dictate, or they disorganise the whole of the industries and ■ affairs of tlie Dominion, t« say nothing of the misery and suffering that must be the lot of so many. Now, sir, I would suggest that the miners be at once conscripted for home service, and so placed under military 'aw. Let Ineni have to work as soldiers have to work. Why shoiild our soldiers have, to fight and give w> their lives while a small section of the community may stay at home in safoty and unset the business of the' countrv. There is only one name that can be applied to their ringleaders during -war time— there is only one rmnishment. AVberc is our strong man?—l am. etc., A MOTHER AND SISTER. OF SOLDIERS. .

A start was mado yesterday morning to unload the coal on a vessel which has beVn waiting here for some time fully loaded, and also on another vessel also fully loaded which has just arrived in port. ,