SOME QUERIES.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 25, 25 August 1911, Page 16

SOME QUERIES.

Dear Comrade, —Was anything more ridiculous than this prosecution which iS now going on of those, who refuse to register under the Compulsory Military, Act? . Lfeblsf at - it which 1 way you will, it's absurd. On tho one hand, those who refuse to register are called by those who favour militarism unpatriotic, and ; a re told that they do not love their country. Then, apparently to make.them love their country, they are sent to prison for three weeks or

fined! Will they be likely to love tit© country or those who make the'la of the country, any more for this? And hundreds, perhaps, of those who have enrolled have done : so> not because they loved their country,. but .because they feared that if they didn't enrol' tho country would s-holtf its love for them by putting them into prison! Will they make good soldiers? And then some of the offenders havOj been told that if they don't like the laws they can leave the country. And so as to enable them to leave, they are locked up.or fined. How can a man or a boy leave the country when he is locked up ? Or when all his money is taken to pay fines? Isn't the law an ass? And are not those who framed the law and those who carry it into execution illogical? And all because they fear the Fijianis or Samoans may come and capture us. What a funk they in. Good Lord! Auckland. TOM BLOOD WORTH.