Militarism and Margarine.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 23, 11 August 1911, Page 5

Militarism and Margarine.

By ERNEST JONES. Our military dictator has informed the various employees, trading establishments and farmers' unions that their businesses shall not be interfered with by the operations of the Compul-. sory Military Training Act. Everything that can be done to meet their, wishes will be done. The drapers' assistant will be nobbled in the slack season. on his holiday allowance, or during his leisure moments. In no case will business be interfered with. '•- The farmers'-drudge*will no doubt attend his military duties' between the' dark and the dawn, such being his only spare moments. In spite of the binding clauses of the Masters and Apprentices Act, which compel a boy to use his best endeavours in his employers' behalf, and not absent himself from work, the new law rides through all agreements, and the apprentice will not know where he is until his apprenticeship is'finished, when the time lost in military flap-doodleism will" have to be made good to the employer. It is remarkable how little is known about the Act, and how a certain class of easy-going gullible people swallow any bait and hook that is thrown to them. Said a pompous individual the train: "It's not compulsory training; it's registration of names only"— echo of an addlepated ass's braying in a prosecution for non-registration the day before. Newspaper phrases and

scoldings are : being bandied about as private opinions of individuals who have succumbed to coercive legislation without even the. wriggle of the worm that turned. One is reminded, by ' this wholesale slaughter of public conscience of the mobilisation of the reservists and mili-. tia men during the..Boer war in the Old Country. The daily papers were hilarious over the response to the call of the country. Regiments were, mobilised to the last man, and never a mention was made of the ten years' imprisonment with hard labor that waited for the man that did not mobilise . I questioned then, as I question now, "Is it bravery or ; cowardice . that prompts people to ; ; ignore the 'still, small voice' of conscience and take a sporting chance of what may follow?" I have found in innumerable cases of parents who were heart and soul opposed to having their .son thrown into a mixed company, of all sorts to be taught the. art of training a rifle to ooveir a man's heart that they were afraid of trouble. By this fear has a.. thing more terrifying been saddled upon them. Had they, with the- urge that stirs human blood when insult is cast upon it voiced their opinion and protest, other dangers had never threatened them. There" is no-invasion so dangerous as the invasion of capital. It knows no country and no law. It makes wars and slaves and binds nations and inclividuaTs. Aye, the very system of defence we have established by our reckless indifference or cowardice may. I*o work out that a son may train his gun on his father'S-Jieart and shoot him dead. The thing is possible. It-hap-pens in conscript nations every day* •. Learning to shoot straight means nothing less than this—you aim to kill. It is useless to delude oneself into the belief that discipline will be good for the youth of the country. The South American slave was disciplined to do as he was told. It was because of that he was a slave. The millions of people who wait on machines, bear burdens, perform heavy tasks and lose individuality, are disciplined, arid-it is not until they throw off the shackles that bind' them to their degrading tasks there is any hope for.' any country or any people. . 11l fares the' land which hangs on Caesaifs will, however mighty his principles 'may be, ! if ho wades to power through blood. ,