A REMARKABLE SCENE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 996, 25 May 1911, Page 3

A REMARKABLE SCENE.

SOCIALISTS AND COMPULSORY TRAINING. Waihi, May 22. For the past fortnight the question of compulsory military training has been exercising the minds oi the Socialist party, and its disloyal public utterances have caused a revulsion of feeling. The culminating point was reached yesterday afternoon on the Public Domain. A young man named Potter, an ex-South African contingeuter, gave a stirring address in the presence of about 1500 men and women in support of the defence scheme, and moved a resolution —“ That while deploring the horrors of war, we maintain that every man has a right to uphold the British flag.” As an amendment, the leaders of the Socialists, after giving utterances in terms couched in disloyal language, and stigmatising Potter's address as a babel of jingoism, moved meeting of citizens enters its emphatic protest against compulsory military training. ” The Socialists i insisted on a division to decide the

question,Jand a remarkable scene followed. The great crowd split up, and in quick time took up respective positions. About 300 took up a position in favour of the amendment, while the large majority took up a position for the British flag. Meanwhile the more excited Socialists made an urgent appeal to the concourse to rally round the red flag. The resolution, however, was carried amidst enthusiastic cheering, and the scene ended in the singing of the National Anthem, during which the Socialists interrupted with groans. Invercargill, May 22.

Major-General Godley addressed a large meeting of citizens on Wednesday night on defence matters. He declared that there was no idea of fostering a spirit of militarism. The scheme was one of voluntary universal training. It was the people’s scheme, and the people would have to see it through. General Godley visited the Western district, Bluff, and Stewart Island.