CONTRARY COAL-MINERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1916, Page 2

CONTRARY COAL-MINERS.

OPPOSED TO CONSCRIPTION PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS FIRMLY. By Tilegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, May 27. i'lie 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 ptace 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 underhandedly 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 comibat conscription. Mr. W. F. Masscy replied expressing astonishment that a presumably intelligent body of men should make such extraordinary statements. He could not conceive any more gross breach of faith than leaving 60,000 men unsupported on the field of battle. The statement of smuggling colored labor was absolutely devoid of foundation, and he eould only conclude that it was made with a deliberate intention of prejudicing the Government and obscuring the real issue that the coutnry has to face. In conclusion, he expressed regret that the union should have passed such an illconsidered, misleading and unwarrantable resolution. *ln the hour of national peril a man who declines to recognise and discharge his obligations to the State conclusively demonstrates his unfitness for citizenship.