The People Should Decide

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 6

The People Should Decide

Conscription Issue MR. BARNARD CIVES HIS VIEW ; From Our Own Correspondent. HASTINGS, Dec. 20. “I was asked recently by the Pres.* to comment on a persistent rumour that the Government had decided to bring in conscription for overseas service,” said the Hon. W. E. Barnard in an interview this morning. ‘‘l denied the report, and added that the question had not been discussed in caucus, which would be sure to be consulted on so vital an issue. Since then one or two Ministers have addressed meetings of L.R.C. and Trade Union representatives, and have replied to the question whether the Government proposed to introduce conscription. “I think it is time therefore, to indicate to my constituents what my reply is to the question, asked in various places: ‘lf the appeal for volunteers for the second echelon does not succeed, would you take a referendum on conscription?’ I think \va can obtain the volunteers if the right methods are used and, secondly, if it should come to a question of conscription, I say unhesitatingly that it should be referred to the people for decision. “I have no son, and I am not prepared to compel other people’s sons to go overseas,” continued Mr. Barnard. “This may be criticised as irrational, but I cannot help that. The country has given no mandate for conscription. If the question arises, the people, and the people only should, in my j'dgment, decide. Volunteers Can Be Got "But I believe we can get thi volunteers,” raid Mr. Barnard. “Over 100,003 New Zealanders served overseas between 1914 and 1918, and cl these I think something like 85,00(j were volunteers. The young men of New Zealand are not less spirited than the young men of 20 to 25 years ago. The young fellows cf to-day are mostly the sons of returned soldiers. I doubt, however, whether we shall obtain the men we need unless more adequate means are taken to get them. We shall not get them by means of an almost casual statement to the Press, cr an odd talk or two over the air And it is strange that a class of men which is among the best surely to encourage recruiting has not been qvailed of. I refer to the returned soldier members of Parliament. Localbody representatives are being asked to recruit, but not the national representatives of New Zealand, who have seen active service and who know what soldiering is. “This is the-day and the hour when the returned soldier in Parliament should be playing a leading part in the country's war effort. In a recent official appeal he is not so much as mentioned. If volunteering fails, 1 fear, end it will unless more intelligent methods are adopted, those responsible for present ineffective methods will have to face up to the question of conscription. It will be a thousand poties if we merely stumble blindly aieng the road to conscription when there is no need for it if we use the means that are ready to hand. Utterly Erroneous, N “A Minister is also reported to have said that if there is to be conscription, *it will mean that you and I will be on soldier’s rations and soldier’s pay.’ The Minister is entitled to his opinion, as I to mine,” said Mr Barnard. “J consider, however, that the viewpoint expressed is utterly erroneous. Wo have been told by the Prime Minister and others that this is a fight for democracy and for the maintenance of that standard of living which it has been the object of the Labour Parly to build up, and which it is its object to maintain and increase. I entirely ree with this latter point of view “It is ecant encouragement to the men who have already enlisted, or to those who are being asked to enlist, if iu leaving New Zealand they are premitted to do so with the idea iu their minds that their parents and friends will bo compelled to accept an inferior standard of living to that which the soldiers are told they are fighting to maintain. It will be the natural desire of the soldier abroad that the folks at home shall continue as far as possible to live tho uorraal life to which they have been accustomed. A better course, and one more in line with the principles of Labour as I understand them, w’ould be to lift tho standard of the soldier up to that of the average skilled worker. “No-one will say tkat the soldier is not entitled to that. But the policy of whittling down, of impoverishment, is not ouo which the people of New Zealand would ever support. They had too bitter au experience of that chastening process only a few years ago,” concluded Mr. Barnard.