THE CONSCRIPTION BILL

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 June 1916, Page 2

THE CONSCRIPTION BILL

(To the Editor^. Sir,'—in. one of your recent issues a correspondent (.Mr Kead, of Fairfield) maiics a pathetic appeal to Levin citizens to witness his martyrdom, in tlie cause of freedom, as i. suppose lie would call it. lie . objects to touscription and bolsters up ins objections with what he considers suitable passages of Scripture. Were it not ior the influence these people exert over others weaker than themselves <. no would hardly trouble to reply to such statements as your correspondent gives expression to. As it <is a few tacts may not go amiss. Mr Head makes the statement that the law of New Zeaiand now isays in effect: "Thou shalt kill thine enemy.'' Let me remind .Mr Bead that the law of New Zealand says nothing of the kind, l'ou "can please yourself how you treat your personal enemy, but if you kill him the law ol New Zealand wiil demonstrate in a very practical maimer that it is there for the express purpose of saying "Thou shalt not kill thine enemy." Mr Head further adds that killing one's enemy is soldier's work. Does he imagine for one moment that the thousands who have sacrificed the"' individual pleasures and comforts to join m this war and in many cases sacrificed their lives, did so merely to gratify a personal grudge against tlio Germans? Not tiley I They are righting for the very foundation of the British empire, namely, Christianity, and civilisation with all the privileges that these two forces stand for. These are two of the most vital forces tit stake in this waa - , for these are the tilings that Germany is the enemy of, and it is because she is the enemy of these things that this has become such a work! war, for other nations reair.se what is at stake; tlioy see that Britain is fighting not merely to safeguard fier own territory, but tor something that vitally effects the whole world. iet there are people still trying to justify their unwillingness to tako their part, and 'of these surely the moet pitiaible object is the conscientious objector, who poses as a martyr and the champion of Christianity Bind all that it implies: yet when that Christianity calJh out and demands his sacrifice instead of being ready we find he is busy debating: "How much will 1 sacrifice P And how?" Perhape, if he debates long enough he will awaken to the that the eacrifioe of thousands of iioble men's lives—men wiio did not stop to ask, how much shall I give? And how? but willingly give all—has made hia poor little effort unnecessary. I wonld not advise your eorrespondent to wait until he finds himself in this position;" it will not be a particularly happy one, to «ay the leewt of it.—l *m, srfo., JfJ.