NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1657, 4 January 1917, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR.

SPEECH BY THE MEMBER FOR RANGITIKEI.

Speaking at the “send-off” to Sergt.—Major Perham, at Marton on the 27th ultimo, Mr Newman, MP., made some interesting remarks upon the war. We were living, he said, in serious times, and most of us were doing ail they could to help to defend the British flag. The speaker referred to the splendid spirit that had been shown by young men generally throughout the Dominion in regard to the wax’. This was demonstrated by the fact that after about (10,000 men have gone men are still volunteering for service abroad, and in some districts the ballot may not • have to he brought into use at all. But this would not satisfy the small party of “Discontents,” who are clamouring for the repeal of the Military Service Act of last session. He wished ;o point out that even if Parliament met he was convinced that the Act would not be repealed, and as the present personnel of the House will remain unaltered for nearly two years, in all probability until after Ihe war, opponents of the system may as well accept the inevitable, and “fall in” and do their duty to their country along with other people. He emphasised the point that anti-conscriptionists could render the Act quite inoperative by volunteering in sufficient numbers to enable the Government to fulfil its undertaking to the Motherland in the way of reinforcements. But fins is not what these too sensitive gentlemen want. They would not volunteer themselves. They objected \o compulsion. They would rather that the people of New Zealand shou’d be subjected to the treatment accorded to Belgium than that their precious “views” on compulsory service •Aymld opinion the man who rt osition to our Military Service Act at the present time was an the Dominion and Empire, b uld be firmly dealt with —| Qthem would feel much 1 at Somes Island. put they should be kept u stil f war is over, because, inteptioj-laiiy 'unintentionally, they are playing into the hands of the Germans now. it would do incalculable harm if it could be reported abroad that this Dominion was divided on the question of seeing the war out. He said the time may come when the civil population should be oxganised, as is being done in Germany, and referred to Mr Lloyd George’s proposals for the Home Country. There it was suggested that all men between 17 and 50 should place themselves under the orders of the Government and work at any occupation and in any locality that they wore required. This is how the people at Home are meeting this great crisis, and surely we in New Zealand should be equally self-sacrificing. He wished to refer briefly to the so-called peace proposals of the enemy. He regarded them as absolutely bogus —worked out probably to stiffen the backs of the German people, who are getting war-weary. Is there to be peace without punishment for the destruction of Belgium and Serbia 1 ? The enslavement of thousands of respectable law-abiding men and women who have been sent to Germany under brutal German qllicei’S and men if Who can tell the tale of the misery of these enslavements ? Can we imagine peace with the Lusitania and the murders of Nurse (Javell and Captain Fryatt unrevenged? Peace while the British Navy is still afloat and the German licet uneaptured or destroyed? Such a proposal is madness. Our enemies must pay tor the crimes they have committed. Then we must have suck guarantees as will render such a war as this impossible for another century at all events. This cannot be dune until the military classes which now rule iu Germany are crushed out of existence. We must be prepared to fight until Ups object is gained, if wc would do justice to (lie generations who come after us. He believed that after the war the British Hag would still Hy supreme on land and sea, and would rexuain the symbol of honour, liberty and freedom to all alike, of all creeds and colours, rich and poor, great and small.