CATHOLICS AND MILITARY GLORY IN THORNDON.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 60, 3 May 1912, Page 14

CATHOLICS AND MILITARY GLORY IN THORNDON.

Sir. —With your kind permission, I would like to place before your readers an amusing and interesting little matter regarding compulsory military training. In August, 1911, tho Catholic community was reminded that, as compulsory conscription had been made the law of tho land, ifc was tho duty of every parent to see that their sons of tho requisite ago were enrolled in tho Citizen Army. At a public meeting of Catholics, presided ovor by Liout.-Coloncl Collins, an address on the subject was delivered by (then) Lieut. Robertson, of the Defence Staff, and at the samo time every opportunity was given those lads and young men to tho age of 21, who attended to the number of about 100, to enrol, the printed forms for that purpose being distributed among thoso present. During the course of an excellent onesided address, the lecturer fiercely reminded the meeting that tho authorities would have no "monkeying," to quote his very words, with tho Defence Act, and exhorted thoso present to "play the game." Well, Sir, tho whole scheme to form a cadet corps in Thorndon proved an utter failure, our Catholic youths disregarding all threats and advice to form ono. Sir, it is pleasing to note that our Catholic youths stand pledged to fight in tho cause of peace and liberty, and wo hopethat their action in refusing to participate in conscription will not go unrewarded.— Yours, etc., Thorndon. G. DEE.