MEN WHO WONT FIGHT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1811, 9 April 1918, Page 2

MEN WHO WONT FIGHT.

WHAT THE FARMERS THINK. “SHOULD BE DEPRIVED OF, ' CIVIL RIGHTS.” Reference to the ease of P. C. Webb, M.P., was made on Saturday, at the meeting of the Palmerston Branch of the Farmers’ Union. Mr J. A. McLeavey (chairman), who introduced the subject, said that he had noticed that the Furniture Workers’ Union was protesting against P. Webb being locked up, but he thought that a shirker of any kind should be deprived of all civil rights. They should not allow these shirkers to have all their own way, and the branch should express its disapproval of this sort of thing. Mr J. Bailsillie: Webb got off too easily altogether. The Chairman: We should strengthen the hands of the Government, by showing we do not approve of the Furniture Union’s action. Mr F. Maule said that they should not start anything sectional. The Government was quite able to look after its own interests. Mr H. Vile said that this was a matter that concerned their own interests. The country belonged to the farmer, who was the backbone of the whole country, and while he would be one of the last to stir up sectional strife, he thought that when a man like Webb was backed up by a certain class to take up a position that would be allowed in no otiter country but New Zealand, it was time the farmers took a

stand. Mr IT, Bond said that they should recommend the Government to disfranchise any .man who refused to fight for his country. ■ Mr F. Maule said that he objected to the Farmers’ Union being brought into sectarian or any other sectional strife. There had been a time after the Wellington strike when they were recommended to start arming themselves against the working class, but he said: No! The worker" was as good as the farmer any time, and the farmer was only a worker.

Mr J. Woodley said that if a man tried to shirk his duty at the pro-, sent time, he was no good to the country. They should uphold the Government, and Webb should get all that the law could give him.. It was not the workers who caused the trouble, but the men who had the “gift of the gab,” and who went “tittle-tattling” at the street corners, These objectors should get all that the law allows, so as to give a warning to others. Mr F. Maule: So far as I have read the papers, Mr. Massey says that Webb has not committed any. crime.

The Chairman: I don’t see why one man should eseape from his military duty by getting two years. I move that the branch express the opinion that any rapn who refuses to perform military duties should be deprived of all civil rights. Mr J. Russell: Would you includo conscientious 'objectors? The Chairman: Yes, I would include every man who refuses to do his duty. It was up to them to support the Government all that they possibly could. Mr J. Balsillic: In my opinion, Webb should have been put up against a wall and shot. The Government has been too lenient altogether. The motion by the chairman was carried unanimously, and it was also decided to place a remit on the order paper for the Provincial Conference. —Standard.