Vital Declaration

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 74, 9 August 1912, Page 3

Vital Declaration

WHEREAS THE DEFENCE ACT, 1909, AND ITS AMENDMENT, 1910: 1. Introduces into this Dominion the principle of conscription (i.e., compiilsory enrolment for military service), which has proved the curse of Europe; 2. Introduces military law and courts-martial in time of peace—courts bo constituted as to be directly opposed to the spirit and substance of common law and to the spirit and substance 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 penalty 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 years of age) to volunteer, in time of peace, to serve abroad at any time during a stated period and on acceptance of their offer gives the Governor power to order them on foreign service —thus possibly forcing a man to participate in a war which his conscience condemns, as a result of a promise rashly made in immature youtn; 6. Will certainly increase the burden of taxation until it becemes, as it is in Europe, intolerable. (As a matter of fact, the Defence vote is already approximating the vote for Education); 7. Will have the effect of implanting and cultivating the war spirit in the minds of our youth; 8. Is antagonistic to the growing peace spirit of the age, which is making for the recognition of the brother-, hood of man; 9. Will, inevitably tend to a demand tor an increased term of military service and for residence in barracks or camps, which must has been universally proved—a demoralising effect upon the nation ; 10. Will cause- serious interference with the youths' opportunities for technical and higher education; 11. Confers powers upon the military authorities which are absolutely destructive of all democratic institutions and civic freedom; 12. Necessitates the presence in Weilington of a large number of Imperial and colonial military officers, who will be in a position to brirfg influence to bear upon our legislators and causo a continual demand for an increase of armaments; 13. Allows the permanent force to be used in industrial disputes ; THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND >'M<; URGED TO DEMAND ITS IMMEDIATE REPEALWell t>o suffer is divine: Pass the watchword down the line, Pass the countersign: "Endure." Not to him who rashly dares, But to him who nobly bears, Is tho victor's garland sure. -J. Q. Whittier,