Fighting Conscription.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 27, 8 September 1911, Page 14

Fighting Conscription.

An Anti-Conscription League, haa been formed in Blackball, with T. Magee as secretary. Resolutions of protest against compulsory training were passed, calling on the Government to immediately repeal the Act.

In, connection' with the anti-conscrip-tion campaign now raging, it would be a good -move on the part of all uinions to pass resolutions of condemnation of the Act and forward them to the Premier and member for their district. By doing this, the Government will get an idea how widespread the feeling against this iniquitous Act really is.

* ' * *. A meeting of anti-consoriptronists was held in the Marino Institute, Thorndon, last week. Messrs Dee, Aldis and Scott Bedford addressed the meeting. A resolution condemning compulsory training was carried unanimously. Another meeting will bo held when it is intended to form a branch of the Wellington League.

Glen Oroua district is strongly antimilitarist. A list of names of those protesting aga-inst the compulsory clauses of, the Defence Act contains the signatures of all adult inhabitants, with the exception of five.

After all, it appears the peremptory "get yoxir hair cut" order issued to conscraptionists will not be carried out. The main reason why this is so appears to be the fear lest the anti-militarists will use it as an. argument against the Act. The anti-militarists appear to have saved our budding blood-spillers their flowing locks, for which they should be duly grateful.

Waihi Anti-Militarist Council held a highly successful meeting last week. Messrs H. Kennedy and Chas. Smith drove home the case for the anti-mili-tarists in a telling manner. Signatures protesting against the Act are just rolling in.

The action of the Canterbury Education Board in refusing the use of the public schools in its district for military training purposes is an indication of the suspicion which the Board holds the good behaviour of our conscripts. It was like the cheek of the military authorities asking for the use of the buildings anyway.

The Pet'one Boro-ugli Council's refusal to grant a ball to the military authorities for training purposes shows that the Petoneites are not breaking their necks in support of the scheme. It only remains for our forlorn conscripts to pitch camp in the vacant allotments near the abattoirs.

A largely-attended meeting under the axispices of the Anti-Militarist League was held in. Christchurch on September 1. After an address by Mr. H. Corder, a motion, proposed by Mr. R. F. Williams and seconded by Mr H. Langford, was agreed to with very few dissentients: ''That this meeting", believing militarism to be inimical to the we.lfa.re of the nation and th© progress of mankind, condemns the compulsory clauses in the Defence Act, and pledges itself to use every effort to secure its repeal." On the •motion of Mr. J. A. Mc.Cullough, seconded by Mr. Christie (secretary of the League), it was decided to forward a copy of th© resolution to the Prime Minister. An ovation was given the youth Harry Cooke, just recently released from" prison, for refusing to register, who was carried through the hall to th© platform on the shoulders of two young fellows. After tho meeting, one" portion of the noisy crowd outside cheered young Cooke, whilst others hooted him.

"GET YOUR HAIR CUT."

Vide "N.Z. Times", August 30.— Territorial (to Bob Hogg, on the stump): "Get your hair cut; never mind about your Socialism." SergeantMajor to Territorial, on parade: "Got your hair cut; never mind about your girls." Curses come homo to roost. ■ -» * *

The' amti-milit-arist olemont is ftivadimg the field of sport. In Ohristohurch. a largely-attended meeting was held, and it was decided to form an aniti-military cricket club, with Mr. U. L. Berry as secretary. The club is in no way connected with the- Christ-church'Anti-Militarist League.

Mr James Gourlay, writing: from Christchurch, states that he has just returned from the West Coast road, and that whilst there he pushed the "Worker." He says: "I am a subscriber, ardent supporter and admirer of tli© 'principles therein expressed. . . I was very pleased with tho conscription number, paid trust that it will give a sot back to the conscription business. 1 ' a * *. Mr. E. Stevenson, of Hastings, is doin.sr solo:vc{ld work in Hawke's May. He p,tid.resHCjd large and ontlrusitiotic nioetin.[j;s in Has Lin;?; 3 and Napier. A movonient is on foot to establish branch-c-3 of tbo Anti-Conscription League in those towns. Already a signed l)etition, protesting against the Act has been secured.

A deputation from the Wellington branch of tho Anti-Conscription League (Messrs. Scott Bedford. P. H. Hickey,. and Dr. Couzens) waited upon tho Wellington Trades Council last week, and urged the necessity of the Council passing a resolution against compulsory militairy training and thus strengthening the hands of the League. In intraducing the deputation to the Council, the President (Mr. W. T. Young) spoke very strongly against the Act, maintaining in effect the attitude taken. up by the Anti-Militarist Leagues of New "Zealand. A suggestion made by P. H. Hickey to the Council that it shoiild appoint representatives to be present at the Anti-Militarist Conference next month was heartily received. After the League's delegates had withdrawn, a resolution was passed by the Council condemning compulsory military training and urging upon all affiliated unions to take a similar stand.

Jerry Twomey, of Waimate, was responsible for tho statement that Sirjoe had settled £30,000 on Ms eldest son. Discovering his mistake, he does peuance in the "Dominion." Says Jerry: "I shall only say good hick to him (Ward), and God bless him. Good citizens should always pray for their rulers. ,.

Our readers will (Joubtless be glad to peruse the following letter from the Neils'on citizen whose son departed from New Zealand rather than register for conscription:—

Dear Sir, —We duly received your sympathetic letter re our exiled boy, and are deeply indebted to you for it. We'have no recent photos, of him, and those we do have would give no correct idea of what he is now. Whilst heart and soul with you in condemning this iniquitous conscription measure of J. Ward and Company, as a Christadelphian I keep clear of every other organisation. This dioes not prevent mc doing my level best to see this meaiS■ure repealed. I got your papers all right, and consider your anti-conscrip-tion number splendid. I am doinjg my best to boom it, and inted to become a subscriber myself. Wishing you every success. —I am, etc., PETER THOMSON.

This epistle from Glen Oroua conveys a hint of how to do things :—The question of conscription has been well to the front in this district. Glen Oroua is entirely devoted to dairy farming, and consequently may bo suspected of being reactionary. It is represented in Parliament by an Opposition member; yet in spite of this, practically the whole population has signed a petition against compulsory military training. These signature's were got without canvassing. I wrote out the title of the petition a.n«d laid it on the counter of my store, and the- whole of the signatures were got there. As the total population, according to the directory, is put down at 50, and tiiere are 53 signatures, on the petition. Glen Oroua may reasonably flatter itself of holding the record of protestors in proportion to population, of any district in New Zealand. An explanation of the mc meaning of conscription was all that was necessary to secure these signatures . —Fraternally yours, R. ROSS. Here's to you, brother.