The N.Z, Press and Conscription.

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

The N.Z, Press and Conscription.

By FRED. COOKE

The pubhc press of New Zealand appoiirs to have been captured for cuit-st-iiptiou by tho militarists, just a.s the South African press was bought by ihe mine-owners previous to the war. it iills one with dhnr.iy to know tli.it 3110)1 is possible, beciiu.-w the pii'ili-diiug of half-truths and the suppression of other news bean. , "ii '..iio m,»t'.'.'r gives an ■entirely diUeroiii uspect to anything happening in our mid*!. It is very, very deplorable that thi> should bo after tho magnificent light put up for a i';*'.< p:-.-.>s by t.U'-h i::j: ; .;,i- as Milton, Dean Swift, Steel , . Defoe, Georg.) Jacob Ilolyoak-.v But, howover muoh we deplore r, v<o iiavo to face and light against ::.

'J'lio Christchuroh p.i[>er-5 "iav«> declared against the j>i>ace m'>v>'.T,eiii.\ Tim meeting li«'lJ in Yiotorij. Squiiie roro.iitly was ii; iei.J"d by i.ijv.v arils of L'UOf.l people. One pajjrsr r-'[wjii<;'(] tliat at the linn* advertised to open. L'.lj p.m., tliorc übo-.it a h'Midrod present. The time U) opou iho nicotine was 'MS ■>.:;;., ari i ilioro wa.3 a crowd prooo::': a': the n.dv&i tise'i time to raako a st.irt. The papers had photographers, wit.h thnir apparatus, ready, aud because the meting was almost unanimously in favor of the rosolution-a forest of hands Roing up, condemning the jailof boys and calling for the repeal of conscription—they took no photographs. Tlio same thing occurred at Lyttolton next clay. There was a crowd of 1000 people, the resolution was again carried almost unanimously, and the waa grqat, bub all tho local papers be-liUled Uie meeling as lnuoh as possible. TiiU peffidiom prew, triiod* editori ,

and writers are :sc:ibl>i:"ij; on the men of the past who inad<' ilviu possible, as woll as sral>l>i)itr mi their follow workers in. other industries, appear i< forgot that if militarism is established in t-his country they will come under its censorship eventually—ami suHy they understand what that moans. In those countries uhoro conscription prevails ir.any journalists aro ooir-itantly coming within the palo of tin- law, anil a large number are in jail much of their time, besides the p.ijvrs being suppressed and the ii'ant eoniivcafwl or do-itroy-vl. jf the 'f.-.r .v.iihvarv !),>ys wlio are fighting tin-; <<".-. Teiw act are 'lofoak'd, tin- press lias all to lose. I wonder if xhe journah.sis ©vo-r think of i.lio Fulcration of Labor and tho nallaiit miners wlio hare innd< l possible ■'Tho Maoriland Worl;r.i-," whi'-h is t'ho iiiiiy ii.i[).-r uf niw its _=-..• ;■ - !:;:■■■ j.n- |,i_f up a fiVjit on behalf , of tho hr.ivp pri.soiird liorocs. Don't you ibink it is tinio, public journalists. <'diu>rs. and writers, that, yon ccnvo up prostituting your jiifiit-ality fur jh.< bondit of ill*) jiiiliiaiy and capitalist- rl.-jss:- l T p up, lik.; Jiiwi—damn your bread and butter; now is Uie time for manly acfion; vre hxvc had odoiiuli rcawli/nj. C'otiio a.nd help in tlic fia'ht.