New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 47, 30 May 1916, Page 2

New Zealand

COLLIERS OPPOSED TO CONSCRIPTION. PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS OUT. Pei - Press Association. Wellington. May 27. i The Point Elizabeth State Collieries Employees' Union forwarded the Premier a resolution affirming its determination to oppose to the utmost any 'attempt to enforce conscription on 'workers, it being of opinion that conscription was unnecessary, and that conscription would establish military rule in place of the present democratic rights. The union accused the Government of a gross breach of faith with sixty thousand men who had enlisted 'by enforcing conscription and under* hande.dly smuggling colored labor into New Zealand to replace the soldiers. The union further pledged members to 'make a common cause with the organised workers of Australia to corajbat conscription. I Mi- W. R. Massey replied expressing astonishment that a presumably intelligent body of men should make sucli extraordinary statements. He could not conceive any more gross breach of faith than leaving 6U,00() men unsupported on the field of battle. The statement of smuggling colored labor was absolutely devoid of foundation, and he could only conclude that it was 'made with a deliberate intention • or !prejudicing the Government and obscuring the real issue that (the country has to face. In conclusion, he expressed regret that the union should havepassed such an ill-considered, misleading and unwarrantable resolution. ' In the hour of national peril' a man who declines to recognise and dis- j charge his obligations to the State conclusively demonstrates his unfitness for citizenship. CASUALTY LIST. Killed in action.—Second-Lieut. L. X. Reid. Died of wounds.—Private R. J. Cook. Died of enteric.—Trooper J. H. Home. . MAORI CONTINGENT,' Assumed died of wounds.—Private R, Thompson. - ~ , . . ...