Millar Cornered.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 36, 10 November 1911, Page 18

Millar Cornered.

Questions s'e Defence Act

By PASERKAPO.

Anyone who has read the debate on Supply which took plage in the House of RepresentatiA'cs on. October 6, knows and can now thoroughly, understand what- a terrible predicament the Government is in. Sey.eral.-members, including Wright, 'Fisher, Russell, and Isitt, tackled and - scA-ercly heckled, the Minister in charge (Hon. Mr. Millar).

Not to burden your readers unnecessarily, the gist of the matter is this: The honorable members wanted' to know: Why 76 ' officers of the Defence Force drew £27,000 per annum ? Why no further prosecutions are.taking place? Whether the'country was under universal compulsory training or not? Whether the Government Avas going to compensate the lads who had been imprisoned? Why some should have to-put in a period of training and others be let off'? What Avas the Government going to do Avith the 13,618 boys who had absolutely refused to register? What kind of doctrine 'is it that some should be prosecuted and others let off? What Avould the Government do Avith those lads who had become registered automatically and who had not gone up for medical- exam in ati on ?

In his series of vague, weak -and compromising replies (per\ "Hansard." October (s),"the' Hon. Millar fairly phoAved the coAvardly attitude of the G-OA'-ernmont. He stated that the Government intended to prosecute in certain cases, and .that, only a fe/w lads had refused, to register. As regards the feAv, does he consider that 13,618 are a few? These are the figures published in the "N.Z. Times" of June 27.

He further stated that there Avas a great outcry in the country about the awful cost of the scheme; that there Avas a process of elimination going on ; that about 33 per cent, would be rejected as medically unfit on account of physique, teeth, eyes, etc. ; that only 30,000 men AA'ould noAV be required to defend us against the yellow peril! He mentioned that there had been 12 prosecutions a.nd three convictions. Tavo poor, harmless boys jailed and another forced into exile, because they refused to become butchers of their fellow- men.

Mr. Millar also stated: "There mightbe exceptional cases AA-here prosecutions Avere necessary-" It AA-ould be much more honest and straightforward if Mr. Millar had clearly stated Avhat these exceptional cases are. Mr.- MacLaren, the great • Labor mouthpiece, has been very quiet in these debates. He is asking Labor men to 'support his party in the coming election —and ivhat is his attitude on this great question of compulsory military training and jailing of boys? Does Mr* MacLaren Avish to evade the question ? Or is he afraid of the Government? Why is Mr. MacLaren not to be found in the ranks of the. anti-mili-tarists? Is it timidity or jealousy?

To sum up, fellow-fighters in the anti-military campaign, the Government is giving way "in every direction. It is trembling as all coAvardly governments tremble. It lias heard that terrible roar from the throats of the people—l mean the mighty people, the producers of wealth who do not oavu. it. The Government has had those three little Avords sink deep in their craven hearts —We i«i'<! it.

16 informal., Thus 482 members recorded their votes'; 3S undelivered'papers aa ore returned from the post office, leaving 241 members Avho failed-to-"vote, although every', facility- Avas provided. *** ■ .

Read the announcement on page 7.

The officers of the new Union formed at Nelson recently' are:—President, Mr. De Feu; vice-president, Mr. J. Williams • secretary, Mr. W. E. Bowen • assistant secretary, -.Mr. A. -Glover • trustees, Messrs Peters and Robb ; hon. president, Mr. J. Taylor. The _ neAV Union has decided to assist-in reviving the old Laborers' Union and thus be able to appoint Mr. W. 'E..-Bowen,, as pennant organiser. He Avill also.be secretary of the neAv Socialist party.

Mr. G. G. Farland succeeded in doing some fruitful organising Avork Avhilst at Nelson recently. He will shortly form a union at Picton.

The neAV Nelson Union has added a rule to its constitution alloAving 5s from each member's contribution toAvards a Aveekly paper, such as "The Worker." * * *

Another of the Nelson rules states that suitable economic literature shall be kept on sale at all meetings. Lecturers are allowed also to address meetings of the Union: Both these neAv Unions will affiliate with the N.Z.F.L. * " * *

Read the announcement on page 7. * * *

The Wellington Waterside Workers' Union decided,'by a majority of over 100, to take a ballot on the question of Joining the N.Z.F.L. The secretary of this union does not agree Avith the principles of Industrial Unionism, and issued a circular to members on the eve of the ballot, advising them to vote against the F.L. HoAvever, the proposal was carried.