IN DEFENCE OF CONSCRIPTION.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 61, 10 May 1912, Page 14

IN DEFENCE OF CONSCRIPTION.

Sir,—Ho' "The Maoriland Worker" and its continued whine about conscription—a term misapplied to the compulsory military defence training which is now a law of tlie land, and which should be a law of all lands without exception, as it is no more and no loss th_n a nirt— and *n ewantijil out— of

compulsory education, which fits a man to take his part, (personally, as a man wholly trained in men's affairs) in national and racial well-being, and towards tho maintenance of independence and freedom. If a man does not work, neither should ho eat. If a man does not defend, neither should ho bo defended. No member of any community should be permitted to remain in a state of ignorance, and tho luck of knowledge of the use of arms is ignorance of tho most criminal kind, as it leaves tho way open —and widely open—at any timo for frenzied ignorance to overwhelm cultured intelligence, which amounts lo imbecility. Any man (?) or men (?) with conscientious (?) scruples about defensivo training (miscalled conscription) should take their scruples with them and go to China or Japan, where they would be bettor appreciated than in those free countries of Australia and New Zealand. The writer is a Socialist of the Socialists in everything, but, of course, with a limit, and that limit is an invitation to nationally or racially organised ignorance to come and eat us irp and leavo not a vestige of manhood, womanhood or childhood to protest. Tho cowardly poltroon in the shape of a man who would not do his share in defence deserves no consideration whatever, and banishment should bo tho least penalty for tho crime. Playing witli criminals who refuse to be trained by fining them is to be condemned as strongly, and if not equally criminal, is nearly so. Duty to state, people, and humanity requires severe integrity and purity of administration, and a steadiness of purpose, partly in evidence in the best organised civilised states, but should bo much more fully so in organised Socialistic states, where equality and equity should rule.—l am, etc., Wanganui. A. SOCIALIST.