Fighting Conscription.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 26, 1 September 1911, Page 14

Fighting Conscription.

The authorities of Christchuroli summoned a youth'last week to appear before the S.M. Court, charged with_ refusing to register! The. Anti-Militar-ist Council made arrangements to defend the case. At the last moment the information was withdrawn, though the boy remained unregistered. Why r"

In connection with the organised ■ attempt to break up the anti-militarist meeting in Christchurch, Sub-Inspector McGrath said that it had been stated that-the turning-on of the hose caused the trouble, and would point out- that a perfectly legal meeting was being held in the hall. A crowd of some two thousand youths gathered round. It was the. fashion to describe such crowds as "good humored and orderly,' but this - "good humored and orderly crowd commenced by attempting to gain, access to the hall by fraud, and when, not get in without tickets they hammered in the doors. These young men were not Socialists, and he would describe the assemblage outside as a gathering of young blackguards. They paraded town afterwards, hooting, singing and cheering, and disturbing peaceable people. Election, time was approaching, and it was well to make it clear that such conduct would not be tolerated. The crowd came along to the police station and showered stones there* He might also mention that the people in the hall were powerless to protect, themselves from the stones fired through'the windows.

Despite attempts made by the/press to minimise the Christchurch anti-mili-tarist meeting held in the Choral Hall last week, the public as a whole have 'been able to gather that there were hundreds present opposed to the Conscription Act. The official statement by Mr. Louis Christie, secretary, is to the effect that the resolutions submitted, to the, audience were carried by over 800 to 21. At a. meeting of the Ohristchurch Ministers' Association, held last week, a deputation was received from the National Peace and Anti-Militarist Council of New Zealand. The objects of the Council were briefly laid before the ministers by the deputation, who expressed alarm at the action of the Government in framing a law that oame between the parent and the child ■and made criminals of boys who had committed n,o crime, and was likely to undermine the moral well-being of the family. Special stress was laid upon the inadequacy of the exemption clause of the Act, and reference was made to the inconsistency and inharmony of the' military spirit with the teachings of Christ. In answer to questions, the deputation stated that the" immediate object of the Council was to agitate for the repeal of the compulsory clauses, and that its aims were law-abiding and peaceful. After the deputation withdrew, the matter was discussed by the ministers,, and a "resolution, was carried unanimously.protesting against the compulsory clauses of the Act, and pledging themselves to work in. the interests of their repeal.

Mr. Isitt, recently elected for Christchurch North, is said to be opposed to the compulsory clauses in the Defence Act. . - ■' '.■■,■■•■ •■•'■;■ ■ ■ . •

F. R. Oooke writes:—

An indignation meeting to. pass resolutions of protest was arranged to take place in the Choral Hall on Monday, August 21, which was advertised. A few days' before the meeting we discovered' that the college students, volxinteeirs and rowing clubs were organising to create disorder and chaos. Therefore tickets were issued and precautions taken accordingly. Early on the Evening of the meeting .it was plainly apparent that thore was mischief brewing, because, amongst a large number admitted before 7 o'clock were 60 or 70 college hooligans, some of whom had gained admittance by forged tickets. After 7 it was with great difficulty that ticket holders could get to the door, several policemen olding those out who were trying to force an entrance. About a-quarter past 7, at a signal from the outside, the college hooligans inside tried to rush the side door to let the outsiders in. For a brief period there was a mixing of people—biff! bang! oh! swish! creak! "Coward!" ''Let him tip !" "British fair play!" and various other sounds. I saw a dark man about sft. 6in. weighing lOJst, going round a big blustering fair man —and didn't the dust fly. Then I saw the dark man biffing round the college hooligans— left, right, upper cut; bogorra, he appeared to be at home in the work. Then the police and several peace men threw two or throe out into tho chilly night. All the time the side door was creaking and groaning from the pressure outside, several custodians holding tho

fort with great difficulty. Stones were Jveinig thrown through the windows.. At 7.45 Jack McOuMough, th© chairman, opened the meeting. About this time thoro was a loud explosion, outside, which sounded as if "dynamite was beimg used. The resolutions were moved, seconded and carried, stones coming through the window all the time, many faJling on the platform. The outsiders by this time had secured a battering-ram and th>e side door was besieged, and both door and. wall threatened to come down, when the firo hose was discovered and "a watery blessing was showered; on our gentle wo«uJd-b<> defenders from a foreign foe. The chairman having declared the meeting closed,- we went out to view the enemy, who were waving little toy-banners, swearing and singing patriotic songs alternately. When they saw the meeting was over they formed into a solid body, and marched to the Socialist Hall, where they halted and on© man waved the Union. Jack, made a speech and led the- singing of the National Anthem. Meantime, all the windows of th© hall had been broken. They then cursed the Socialists, and inarched round the city, giving an exhibition of what the people can expect if ever, militarism gets a strong rooting in New Zealand.

Heard outside the meeting.—"The Socialists should be turned out of the country." '-'The Socialists won't- defend their country." "We'll kill that Cooke, the Socialist." "We don't want the d- Coofce family to help to defend our country." " There w«.re many fights. The -anti-militarists, appeared to be as numerous as the college hooligans and their military friends, but not so turbulent.

This resolution was carried at the last "business meeting of the.'Brooklyn branch N.Z. Anti-Conscription League: "That this meeting of Brooklyn residents strongly protest against the military spirit which is being inculcated in the minds of the boys (cadets) under the pretence of physical drill, and is of opinion that the time s-hould be more profitably employed by giving the boys moral instruction." Copies of the resolution have been sent to the Brooklyn School Committee and the press.

t> * *• * * A Press Association message received from Christcluirch stated that "it. is understood that the defence authorities have received instructions from Wellington not to proceed for the time being with any further prosecution of those who have failed to register in accordance with the terms of the new Defence Act." Major-General Godley was asked whether the telegram was correct. The reply made by the Commandant was that ''it was not intended thatt those wlio failed to register, inaccordance with the Act, will be allowed to escape the con sequences of their default.

Mr. J. A. McCullough, who presided at the anti-militarist meeting held in Christchurch, said: "I have been appointed to preside aft this meeting," lie announced, "and to do that I must have the audience with mc. (Loud applause.) I presume I have been selected for the position, of chairman because it is in. a quasi-judicial capacity that I have to do my day's work. I have been selected, I suppose, because of my position on the Arbitration Court, and I am going to arbitrate to-night. I don't belong to the AntiMilitarist League that has called this meeting; I am a citizen of Christohurch, and 1 am going to appeal for British fair play to-night.' 1 (Loud applause.) After the resolutions had been put to the meeting and carried, the Chairman stated that they were his sentiments exactly.