MINERS’ UNION WILL OPPOSE CONSCRIPTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1557, 30 May 1916, Page 3

MINERS’ UNION WILL OPPOSE CONSCRIPTION.

THE PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY,

Interesting and important correspondence has passed between (he Point Elizabeth and State Collieries Employees’ Union and the Prime Minister on the subject of compulsory' service. Heading his letter, “The World’s Wealth for the World’s Workers,” the secretary of the union forwards to the Prime Minister the following resolution passed by the State Coal Miners’ Union against the Militarv Service Bill ;

“We, the members of the Point Elizabeth and State Collieries Employees’ Industrial Union of Woi’kers, reaffirm the finding of the United Federation of Labour Conference, held in Wellington, concerning conscription, and will oppose to the utmost any attempt made by (be Legislature to enforce conscription on the workers of New Zealand, being of the opinion that conscription is unnecessary ; also (hat: the true purport of conscription is the establishment of military rule in place of our present democratic rights and priviliges that have cost us so dearly. We declare that is is a gross breach of faith to those (it),000 men out of our small population of one and a quarter million who have risked,* and in thousands of cases laid down, their lives toaiphold our present free and democratic Constitution, to now introduce the baneful system of conscription, and particularly so since the present Government advocating conscription is in an underhand manner insidiously smuggling coloured labour into New Zealand to replace our soldiers on the industrial field ; thus proving to the world that we in New Zealand have already reached the danger point as far as development of our national resources is concerned. Further, we pledge ourselves to make common (-ansi' with organised workers of Australia to combat

conscription.’' » Writing in reply under dale 251 h May, the Prime Minister says ; ‘■The resolution thus conveyed to me conveys so many remarkable mis-statements of fact that I am astounded to join issue against, your union in its expression ol opinion, and to express my astonishment (hat any presumably intelligent body of men cpn be so ignorant id. ibe true position as to give its assent t > such extraordinary statement-- as are covered in the resolution itself. Let me noiut out. that whatever measure of national service may come into operation, in this country can only be brought about with the consent and approval of Parliament, which is the constitutional anthority in all such mat ■ 1 (M's.

“t cannot conceive of any breach of faith (ban that which would leave the fiO.OOO men to whom your resolution refers unsupported mi the held of hntlle. as they would I e it the opinions voiced bv your union were allowed to prevail in this eoiiiry. You elaim that rigid to speak for these men absolutely wii hunt Just ideation, if yonr union had done anything to help in the recruit iug line and to send me i to the : ssistauce of the brave fellowswho have so freely volunteered their services in the defence of the Empire. I could understand your claim to speak on their behalf, and to characterise as ‘a gross breach of faith’ any departure from the lines of voluntary - service. But the men we sold into the trenches at Gallipoli left here with the full understanding (Iml they would he backed up, and reinforced from lime to time, by others similarly-minded with themselves —men who would consider no saerillce too great if thereby our ‘free and democratic Constitution’ was preserved to the people of this country. AN ALLEGATION RESENTED. “The statement that the present Government advocating conscription, is in an underhand manner insidiously smuggling coloured labour into *New Zealand to replace our soldiers in the industrial held, is absolutely devoid of foundation, and I can only conclude that it is sent forth to the country will) the deliberate intention of prejudicing the Government in the eyes of the people, and with the object of obscuring the real issue thi- country has to face —that is, whether we will not take such steps as will ensure complete co-operation with the Motherland in securing that victory over Germany which .can alone preserve us from the evils of Prussianism and maintain ‘our free and democratic constitution' unimpaired. ‘T can only add, iu conclusion, the expression of my regret that the members of your union should have seen fit to pass' such an illconsidered, misleading and unwarrantable resolution as that which you have conveyed to me. I eonnot help thinking it would have been bolter bad you waited to learn the intentions of the Government, and •the attitude of Parliament upon what is the most vital issue of the day. Ihe members of your union, who have in a very special way been eared for by the State, have apparently failed to grasp the allimportant fact that if the State has responsibilities towards them they also have responsibilities and obligations to the State, and, iu the hour of national peril, the man who declines to recognise and discharge such obligations conclusively demonstrates his unlitness for citizenship. (Signed) AV. F. Massey.”