A PREACHER OH TREASON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1646, 5 December 1916, Page 2

A PREACHER OH TREASON.

A REPRESENTATIVE of the Manawalu Daily Times attended a meeting - at Palmerston on Sunday night, and supplied our contemporary with a report of the utterance of Mr James Thorn, an individual who has been prominent in “educating’’ I lie workers. “Our lirst inclination,’’ says our contemporary, “was to give publicity to (he speaker's statements, but on second thoughts we concluded that such a procedure would answer no useful purpose. Mr Thorn is an individual of extraordinary earnestness, and is, we are convinced, honest according to his lights; but his record of public service and achievement: is not such, as to entitle him to speak authoritatively on compulsoiw military service or any other question. The people of New Zealand have demons!rated a desire to participate to the full iu the struggle against Ihe national enemy. A section of the community, of whom Mr Thorn E one of the mouthpieces, is adverse to this policy. They are cosily sheltered beneath the folds of the Union Jack; but though they (irate much of ‘freedom,’ they are not concerned to help those who are giving to the cause of human liberty the last measure of devotion. Regardless of the fact, that in times of crisis like lliese ‘those who are not for us are against ns,’ they set themselves up to oppose the Hovernment and announce their preparedness to adopt ail the means in (heir power to thwart the wishes of those who have the best intnerests of the Empire at heart. This altitude is anti-social and treasonable, and cannot be countenanced if anlhorily is to be respected. Mr Thorn has the temerity to threaten New Zealand with a big strike. A big strike would inflict enormous injury on the eonmmnily, and particularly on those who rely on their lahonr for their daily bread. A big strike would relat’d our efforts to supply food and clothing to those who are lighting our battles in the trenches and would in a not inconsiderable degree inflict want and misery on the civil population in the Old Land. To that extent it would jeopardise (he chances of winning the war. This may he a mailer of little concern to Mr Thorn and his colleagues, hut ir will place (hem under a distinct obligation to (he Hermans. Perhaps I hey do not realise this —we do not think hardly enough of them to believe they do — but (hat is the logical effect of their present attitude. If they persist in that all hide (hen they can only he regarded as enemy sympathisers and rebels, and must he dealt with accordingly.”