An Open Letter.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 55, 29 March 1912, Page 2

An Open Letter.

From the Father of an Exiled Anti-Conscript.

TO SIR JOSEPH WARD, BART

Sir, —Hoforo your Ministry ends I would again bring 6lie case, of my exiled boy under your notice. As it is possible that in the bustle ami excitement ot the la to election campaign my iorhu>r open letors to you on tho subjoct have hi fix overlooked, I shall givo you a brief outline of Jus casi , , with a imni!>er of reasons for considering that ho has been l>oth cruelly and unjustly treated. On tho 15th of .Idly last, in answer to a summons, he .appeared bi>fo;re Magistrate! Kvans in the Nelson Court, charged ' with failing to register as required by tho Defence Act. Acting on my instructions, bo pleaded "guilty," and 1 explained to tho magistrate that the boy himself was willing to register, but owing to religious scruples, I had prevented him. Major Jiedmond, representing tho Defence Department, asked for an exemplary sentoineoj suid the Magistrate responded by in Hi tiling tike maximum penalty.

.In the first place; I would liko to know why my boy was singled out from amongst all the other defaulters in Nolsori, and what right tlio Defence Department had to ask for'an exemplary sentence in his case? It seems to mc -a violation of every principle of justioo to pass an exemplary sontenoo on ono delinquent that all others might see how wicked they had been, and this all the more, so because the boy (who was only 16 tho day ho was fined) was placed in a very difficult position, having to ohooso between his father and the law. Not having sufficient money to pay his fino, his bicycle and what money ho had was seized under a distress warrant, and he had to leave tho country to escape the other penalties promised by the Magistrate. I would like to have Magistrate Eva.ns' explanation'for hi sanction. J. also consider Mr. Evans , denunciation of mc as an a.narchist, etc., because I could not conscientiously permit my boy to bocomo part of any military organisation, a gross breach of privilege.

Such are. (ho tacts of tho prosecution. But I have other reasons for considering this Act both iniquitous and tyrannical, and a thing to be resisted. Although a British subject, and both my boys born in Scotland, 1 have never

voted in Now Zealand nor applied to ho placed on the roll, and am of opinion that w-oro I to test t.ho question of the liability of my buys to conscript service in New Zealand, it would l>o found that they were no moro liable than a- Gorman or a Frowlimani Furuher, \vi>ro I to take my stand on constitutional grounds, 1 still would bo justified in refusing.

In a s]>eech you delivered at Feilding shortly before you left fur the Imperial Conference, you said: "'A system of compulsory training in arms would mean the creation of the nucleus of a system of militarism winch tin- country ought not to tolerate. . . Tho suggestion that wo had to be prepared ior an invasion was utter nonsense." Again, shortly before th« election of VMIS, you informed a deputation that there was a tremendous undercurrent of feeling against tho proposal, and that the country would never stand conscription. And at lnvorenrgill, shortly after Iho election, you distinctly stated that you had no intention of introducing compulsory military service. And yefc within on« year, without any mandate from the people, you got Parliament to pass this measure, which outrages the most sacred rights of parenthood and is altogether alien to British traditions. Surely it were better u> confess that the whole scheme was a. mistake than in l;:> on making criminal-s of boys and puni-ihing them for life because they will not outrage their conscience or disobey tiieir parents.

I shall also bo obliged if you will explain Mr. Millar's st-abormMit in Parliament in October last, when he said "bli at it was not tho general principle of tho Government to prosoeute in oa&et of failing to register, but there may be special cases." Thanking you in anticipation of an eaxly reply.—l am, etc., PETER THOMSON. Victoria G'rcwnt, Nelson.