A “RED FED” THREAT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 11, 11 September 1915, Page 4

A “RED FED” THREAT.

HOSTILITY TO NATIONAL REGISTER. (

The following letter, has been written by the secretary ,of the United Federation of Labor to the Prime Minister:— “Bight Hon. W. F. Massey,

“Prime Minister, “Wellington

“Sir, —I have been instructed by the United Federation of Labor to express. on its behalf, t,he strongest possible; protest against the Natippal Registration Bill, introduced, by you. It is conscription pure : and, .simple--Clause 5 contains provisions enabling tlie military authorities to compel unperson to submit to. medical examination fo’i* Alie : purpose of* ascertaining his fitness for active service. If this Bill is placed upon the Statute Book it is going to create serious dissension" at the time of the greatest‘crisis in the history of the Empire, just the time when all parties should be at amity with each other. During the currency of the present war those people who have been most strenuously opposed to militarism in every shape and form have preserved a dignified neutrality. They adopted this course because they did not want to cause any embarrassment whilst the war lasted, believing that the Empire was engaged in a supreme struggle to uphold the principle of Democracy. All those brave men who have volunteered for service, and those who have sacrificed their lives on the battlefields of Europe, have done so for the same rea-

“Now, if this measure is placed upon the Statute Book it means that a breach of faith will be committed with every volunteer unde rthe British flag. “This callow Dominion has been used in the past as a lever for the introduction of compulsory military training. a system of militarism repugnant to the Democracy of the Mother Country. and this National Registration Bill would not be tolerated" by the workers of England, therefore why should this country- be used as a lever for the introduction of a system of militarism which aims at placing the whole burden upon the industrial classes in the community’, by making them fight the battles of the Empire, foot the bill, and at the same time rob them of the freedom which they consider they are fighting and paying to uphold. Organised labor in New Zealand does not wish to cause any dissension, and therefore respectfully submits its most emphatic protest to the (Jovernment before the proposals contained in the Bill are made the law of the land. “We consider that the enactment of the measure as submitted by you would l»e a blunder of the first magnitude. “Yours faithfully. “HIRAM HUNTER, “National Secretary. “September 7tb. 1915.”