Vital Declaration.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 58, 19 April 1912, Page 9

Vital Declaration.

WHEREAS THE DEFENCE ACT, 1909, AND ITS AMENDMENT, 1910: I. Introduces into this Dominion the principle of conscription (i.e., compulsory enrolment for military sendee), which has proved the curse of Europe; 2.- Introduces military law and courts-martial in time of peaco—courts bo constituted as to be directly opposed to the spirit and substance of common law and to the spirit and substanco 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 young men who have done no wrong. (For the offence of non-registration, the perir alty is life-long. It includes the loss of political rights and of all hope cf employment in any Government department, and is expiated by neither fine 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 yearH of age) to voluntcr, in time of peace, to servo abroad at any time during a stated period and on acceptance of their offer gives ihe {'ovemor power to ■order them on for> ign service—thus possibly forcing a rain to pai ticipate in a war which his conscience condemns, as a r'vdf of a promise rashly made in imne.itore youth; n. Will oei i-aitiE' kvrfu.sn (bo burden of taxation uniE ii hec«>m-\s, as it is in En/ope. inr-iknahle. (As a matter of fact, the lE-Eve '-">te. is already ap pro.Em.iEne tic' vo'-i for Etbicatioii) ; 7. Will hate ';,,■ 'tfeet of implanting and oulEvaliEg tho -va: hpirit in the minds of our youth ; 8. ii an'agoi'EEo to Eio growing ncaco spirit of tho ago, which is making for the r.'cvguEioa of J:e brotherhood of man ; f>, Will inevitably lend to a, demand fur an increased term or military ser- ■>■;'•{> :>i\l :y>r r-'Ehmet; in barracks or camps, which mmE have— as !ia3 been univ.'-rsa'.ly proved--a Jevoraiising effeev upon t-iie ivEoii ; 1). 'iVili ranse sv'm'is in'vi'feivnco villi the voutiis' oppoEaniti-'S for technical and high-:' cdm-aEon ; 11. Eoiifets nosers upoii the military s'Tici-i, r o of al' cmveivEc his-itutiona end c-i'.ic freed,:.:; IE ••; i the in WeE jEw: ■■■!' a Er.v :::; aEv of Enperial aiid edema! r.v.iaiv oiE-as, ■.-.-• !w will Ii" in a. ''.osiEoii to hive, Mii'mmee to kear uuo'i: oar E,-,i.!a".'r n and camse ;., continual do-,..and fat an iii-rcase of arnuu-vnis ; K. Allow - E-v- pei.v.'.iv.'.t ! eve to be IVcd in li'dlVM-iC! -ii.-nuU -, : ViE- 'M-: |, :M.i' ■);' \'■"•:■' "-,'>• i\;n ■ ii ':. ikE- '■.',': EE EE '.EC'Et t Es L'.E