THE DEFENCE ACT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 99, 26 April 1912, Page 5

THE DEFENCE ACT.

DEPUTATION OF OBJECTORS 'lO THE PRIME MINISTER. PROBABLE AMENDMENT. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, April 25. To-day a deputation represent ng an organisation opposed to the Defence Act waited on the Prime Minister and Mr. Myers (Minister for Defence). In reply to the deputation, Mr. Mackenzie said that*as the Act had been passed in Parliament they were there to carry out the law,' He sympathised with those who for conscientious scruples had, been imprisoned. When th< Act was passed it was not contelnplated that imprisonment would follo w civil action. It was all very well for members of a deputation to urge the Government to cease defence work. If other nations did so it would be all .aright, but while they did not do so, defence was necessary. Mr. Mackenzie asked if they had any suggestion to offer as to what they were prepared to do in lieu of the time others were giving for the defence of the country. When the House, met no doubt the subject would be again gone into, with a view to dealt ing.in a' different manner with the question of punishment. A member of the deputation undertook to provide an answer to the request of the Prime Minister to have put in concrete form what service conscientious objectors would be prepared to give the State in lieu of military training.