THE CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 64, 8 December 1917, Page 10

THE CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM

J. H. CATTS CONVICTED AND BOUND OVER (Bee. December 8, 0.30 a.m.) Sydney, December 7. Mr. J. H. Catts, addressing his constituents, noticed that a detective was ■taking notes. He thereupon announced that ho would rofuse to carry on a public controversy under those circumstances. He said he had already been served with five summonses, and threatened with ruin for attempting to carrV on what ho conceived to bo his public duty. After condemning the Government's methods, he closed the meeting.

Subsequently, he stated that he had been advised by an eminent barrister, that if he wanted to keep clear of the multitude of war precaution regulations, he had better deliver a speech oil horse-racing.

Tlio prosecution of Mr. Catts for making verbal statements at a public meeting at Inverell, likely to prejudice His Majesty's relations with a foreign Power, was again before the Court. The Magistrate decided that Mr. Catts had committed a serious breach of the regulations, and convicted him and bound him over in the sum of £400 to observe the War Precautions Eegulations during the currency of the war, and pay costs. On two v siniilar charges in connection with a country meeting he was similarly bound over, in sums of £100 each, and mulcted in \ costs.—Press Assn.

A LIE ABOUT NEW ZEALAND REFUTED (Itec. December 8, 0.30 a.m.) Sydney, December 7. Replying to anti-conscriptionists' statements as to the effects of conscription in New Zealand, Mr. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand, denied that the Dominion is seething with discontent. . The position was accepted willingly and cheerfully. That the Now Zealand Government had promised not to call up the married men was a pure fabrication. The military service machine had been brought into force without any trouble, and worked with remarkable smoothness.— Press Assn.