Anti-Militarism.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 11, 19 May 1911, Page 11

Anti-Militarism.

MASS MEETING AT RTJNANGA. STRAIGHT TALK AND SOUND SENSE. At a large and enthusiastic meeting held at Rnnanga the Government was censured for enforcing compulsory military training upon the people. The chairman (R. Knight) stated) that he could not understand a democratic people like those of New Zealand tolerating such a measure. Mr. J. Glover said that even in Conservative England they would not tolerate such a measure, which ho considered worse than the press gang. The severe penalties to bo inflicted upon youths who would not comply with the Act made it worse than conscription. If the people were unanimous this bill would have no effect. Mr. Semple was of the firm opinion that if the people of New Zealand were to rise in open protest against this most iniquitious act that the Government would hack down and refrain from enforcing it. He was surprised at the people allowing the measure to be passed. The only objections came from the Federation of Labour who made a lone fight. He knew thousands of young men who were protesting. Three years ago Sir J. Ward had spoken against compulsory military training but since his last visit to Kngland and Lord Kitchener's visit here he had turned a somersault. He never referred this question costing £1,000,000 a year to the people any more than the sift of a Dreadnought costing £1,500,000. Mr. Armstrong spoke of the burden of England's immense navy and the forces which broiight about such poverty and degradation and which would soon be hero in our bright colony as our Government, were acting in the right way to bring such conditions jabout. He resented a system which forced him to shoot a comrade with whom he had had no quarrel. Mr. Webb said the only prevention to war was Industrial Unionism. Then if capitalists declared war the soldiers would refuse to fight and this would end war. He instanced in Germany and France how the people were organising against war. He considered this Act passed in New Zealand the work of jingoistic politicians' who would go to England and state "Look at democratic New Zealand going in for compulsory military training." It was for the workers to unite and refuse to subject themselves; then Ward and Co. would not dare to enforce such a measure. Mr. Rollet believed that under present conditions defence was necessary, and that an army was necessary—but what revolted in his nature was the word "compulsory." Were we not subject to enough compulsion already? It was compulsory for them to work under degrading conditions; compulsory to work at most dangerous occupations; compulsory to work for a mere pittance and compulsory for many to starve. War was the relic of barbarism, yet in our so-called civilized world of to-day the nations of tee world were never under such a burden as at the present time.