Fighting Conscription.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 74, 9 August 1912, Page 5

Fighting Conscription.

RUNANGA REBELS.

Things down hero have been very j quiet of late; the military squibs have, ceased to pay their weekly visit; there! have been no drills since March, i Tlio rosiclers hero have hopped in, : and they provide weekly entertainments < in the form of a learners' dance. The dance is nlso in iinanco, which, , , along with the .Ad. per week levy so j unanimously ' struck by the union, should hell) considerably to cavry on thei good work of the passive registers as desired by the central executive. The. union lias held two trfoth'gs of; late. The first was called to bear a re-j port given by Comrade C. "Wesley, of j Millcrton, which was greatly appreci-j ated. Other important business was I transacted, and we finally arranged toj purchase everything required for a bnn-i nor. A friend kindly painted the inscriptions on it, much to the delight and j admiration of the union. j ~A procession eventuated on a recent] Sunday afternoon, when a largo number of the- union, hcadod by two comrades carrying tho banner, marched round the streets, while another comrade supplied music, which enlivened proceedings considerably. In the Miners' Hall Comrade Hartley delighted all present with an address on "Why we should not be soldiers." Comrade Hartley answered several questions satisfactorily, after which the president thanked the speaker for giving such a splendid address on such short notice. Tho chief business transacted at our last meeting was the installation of officers as follows:—President, Com. J. Pattison; vice-president, Com. J. McTaggart; secretary. Com. J. Nuttall; treasurer, Com. J. Duggan; also a committee of five and a social committee of five. We feel assured that tho new committee will work strenuously and conscientiously for the betterment of the union. Our meetings of late have not been attended so well as we would like to see them. Perhaps they think that the battle is already won, but, that is not the case, as our new Ministry is just as desirous of seeing the country under military law as the old Liberals were. So stir up, comrade?, and come to the meetings and encourage the officers to push on the fight for 1 freedom and justice. "We heartily congratulate our comrades in other parts of the Dominion in the stand they have taken in trying to resist this demoralising Defence Act. Our comrades must not forget that they have a battle to win—a battle that when won will be the stepping stone to,international brotherhood and Socialism. So let us rise and crush that which has always been a hindrance to peace and social progress.—RESISTER.