The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 15th., 1916. FLAXWORKFRS AND THE MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1564, 15 June 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 15th., 1916. FLAXWORKFRS AND THE MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

THE Flaxmills Employees' Union has eirenlarised i(s members, calling upon them to pledge themselves to go on strike immediately the “Conseriplion Act" is pul into operation to enforce any man against his wish or conscience to join (he .forces. Further, to act upon any other suggestion that may be considered necessary to obstruct the Act. In order to force this traitorous and anarehial resolution upon (laxmill workers, Mr .1. Thorn —who, by (lie way, is the moving spirit, in the agitation —and the secretary of the Union, will visit the mills and obtain pledged signatures. We do not believe that a majority of the llaxmill workers will be so idiotic as to allow themselves to become the tools of this misguided man, or be led astray by his distortion of the Military Service Rill. Let the employees think the matter out caLmly, and carefully peruse the Act before signing such pledge. The holding up of the industry as suggested will mean suffering and loss to all concerned, and will most assuredly be followed by a punishment provided for in the Aid, which this agitator with Rua-like fanataeism, seeks to flout. Rehind this agitation is a deep laid plot to create an industrial upheaval throughout the Dominion, and we urge (he (laxmill employees not to be led into the trap. The circular miscalls the Military Service Rill the “Conscription Act.” It is no such thing. There is a vast difference between “conscription” and “compulsion.” Conscription means a permanent policy of militarism —compulsion means only service in a vital emergency, such as at present faces the Empire. Premier Win, Hughes of Australia, the dominating character in the Rritish Umpire to-day, is the personal and political leader of the greatest Democratic or Labour Party in the world —yet he is a Compulsionist. He said at Weymouth, when addressing 4,000 An/.aes in Fngland the other day : “1 stand more than any other man for Compulsory Service, because there is no other way whereby a free people can strike a blow for liberty.” Let the llaxmill employees realise what the British Empire is up against in this great struggle—what it would mean to each one of them if the Huns are successful. We have got to down Prussianism and all it stands for if we would maintain our liberty. The Bill now before Parliament meets with the almost unanimous endorsement of the people throughout the Dominion, and any attempt by a few fanatics and their misguided followers to hinder its operation will be dealt with in u summary manner.