Fighting Conscription.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 39, 1 December 1911, Page 13

Fighting Conscription.

At a meeting of the Anti-Militarist League, held at Christchurch, satisfactory reports from the Wellington Conference were received. After considerable discussion a sub-committe was elected to push forward the distribution of literature and to hold meetings in the various electorates. The committee was also instructed to draft out a set of questions for submission to candidates for Parliament. Mr. H. A. Atkinson was elected a vice-presi-dent of the League. * . * * Christchurch "News'" candid opinion: There was one fatal drawback to the success of the compulsory training scheme. A "man with the heart of a mouse and a horror of adverse criticism can never in all his. life perform anything in the nature of a heroic art of statesmanship.- And compulsory militar ytraining, above all things, needed a strong man to plan and carry it out. Instead of a political SandoAV, we have in Sir Joseph Ward what Mr. A. R. Barclay aptly termed an "indiarubber Prime Minister!" Consequontly the defence scheme is doomed —if the Ward Government survives the election. * * « At a meeting composed of representatives of various organisations in Adelaide (South Australia), on November 7th., and convened owing to the passing of the Defence Act. the following resolution was unanimously accepted: "That this meeting form itself into an Anti-Militarist League to promote peace and oppose militarism in any shape or form." Bitter opposition was s,hown to the Defence. Act, and it was decided to co-operate with kindred organisations throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand in ordor that a determined effort should be made to bring about a repeal of the Act. Literature is to be' distributed, ad a strong appeal made to those interested in the success of the movement. It was resolved also to open a voluntary subscription list for the purnose of carrying on a vigorous agitation. Mr. E. 11. Fryer, of Hectorville, S.A.j and-Mr. Robert L. Barringer, 35 Stanley street, North Adelaide, S.A., wore appointed joint secretaries, and will be pleased to 'hear from individuals r societies opposed to militarism. * » * In an editorial entitled "German Socialists and Peace/ 5 the "Daily Telegram," of Portland, Oregon, has the following to say:—"By demonstration >n public gathering and parade, German Socialists to the number of 200,000 have protested against the provocation op Avar over the Moroccan question. That protest may not be potent "to avert war_, but it will have its effect; ■nd.it is significant as showing that the declaration and conduct of war concerning matters of commercial advancement and national prestige are v tot altogether in the hands of the masters. It is a strong hint that democracy proposes to have its say in this matter of war as in the politics of peace. War in Europe that would involve France, Germany. England, and possibly Belgium and the Netherlands would be a crime—a colossal crime. The people .-would suffer for it, and the people, in the majority- sense, do not "want it. In so far as the German Socialists aid in averting it, they are entitled to cWlit and to the thanks of 'the world. 55 *■ ■.■•■'■••; • • . ~ "I am not, nor did I ever pretend to be, a statesman. ' . . . I have not set my sails to every passing breeze. I am a plain and simple citizen, sent here by one of the foremost constituencies of the Empire;, representing —feebly, perhaps, but honestly, I dare aver—the opinions of very many, and the true interests of all who have sent mc here. Let it not be said that I am alone in my condemnation of this war. and of this incapable and guilty Administration., And. even if I were alone, if mine were a. solitary voicf*, iaised amid the din of arms n.nd t-he clamour of a venal press, T-should have the consolation I have to-, mirht —and which I trust will be mine to the, last moment of my existence— the prir-el-ess consolation that no word of mine has tended to ' promote the squandering of niv country's treasure -or the spilling of one single drop of mv country's blood." —John Bright, in i.V. House' <d Commons during, the Crimean war. **' ' • It i<? Tin tier stood' that t-hn Anti-Mili-tarist League of Chnstchurch t intends isstiins; a sum mo us in connection with the expulsion from the Addington .show grounds'of a member who was distributing literature. The damages to be claimed will be nominal merely.; :