VITAL DECLARATIONS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 2, 8 December 1911, Page 3

VITAL DECLARATIONS.

WHEREAS THE DEFENCE ACT, 11909, AND ITS AMENDMENT, 1910: I. Introduces into this Dominion tho principle of conscription (i.e., compulsory enrolment for military which has proved the curse of Europe; i 2. Introduces military law and ■courts-martial in time of peace—courts so constituted as to bo directly opposed; to the spirit and substance of commoit ; law and to the spirit and substance of the British Constitution, from which" courts there is no appeal; ' 3. Violates freedom of conscience , in basing the claim for exemption on doctrinal and not conscientious grounds; 4. Ignores parental authority and! makes criminals of children and youngmen who have done ho wrong. (For, the offence of non-registration the penalty is life-long. It includes the Toss of political rights and of all hope c| employment in any Government department, and is expiated by neither fihet nor imprisonment) ; 5. While professing to provide for the defence of this country, invites members of the Territorial Forces' (youths in some cases only 18 years of? age) to volunteer, in time of peace, toT serve abroad at any time during SB stated ' period and on acceptance of} their offer gives the Governor power to order them on foreign possibly forcing a man to participate, in a war which his conscience "con&' demns, as a result of a promise rashly; made in immature youth; _ 6. Will certainly increase the burden) of taxation until it becomes,, as it is '-W Europe, intolerable. (As a matter ot, fact, the Defence vote is already ap» proximating the vote for-Education) y ; 7. Will have the effect of implanting and* cultivating the war spirit in the. minds of our youth; ~ :; 8: Is antagonistic to the growing peace spirit of the age, which is mak-v ing for the recognition of the brother- • hood of man; ' 9: Will inevitably tend to a for an increased term of vice and for residence ■>* camps, which must hay— at universally proved--a feet upon the no,tion; 10. Will cause seriot'ri jnterrerenCc! with the youths' opportunities for tech* nical and higher education ; 11. Confers powers upon tne muitarj} authorities wliich are abbolutciy destructive of all democratic u'"t:fcui,ions. and civic freedom ,* _ 12. Necessitates the presence in Wellington of a lame number of Imperial and colonial' military officers, who will be in a position to bring influence to' bear upon our and causa a continual' demand for an increase of ,armaments; _ t_, ' ' 13; Allows the permanent force to DO used" in industrin 1 *disputeal; TTTT7. PEOPLE OF NEW ZEAL ANU. Irl URGED TO DEMAND ITS IMMEDIATE REPEAL-