The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1919. THE CHRISTCHURCH PACIFISTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1919. THE CHRISTCHURCH PACIFISTS.

The anti-militarist deputation that waited on the Hon. G. W. Russell as Christchureh last Tuesday to plead the cause of the imprisoned military shirkers and to protest against territorial training, afforded a pitiable exhibition that could not fail to create a feeling of intense regret that such peace at any price advocates could be found in New Zealand. When expression is given to such a sentiment as that uttered by some of, the members of the deputation who asserted they would as soon live under the German flag as under the British, a feeling is evoked that their presence in the Dominion is an insult to the community. They are quite entitled to their opinion—for what it is worth — concerning territorial training, but when they demand the release of what they call the "conscientious objectors," but what others properly term the "cowardly shirkers," they degrade all that we hold best in national life. The remarks made by the speakers as to territorial training plainly showed that the subject was a mere stalking horse for attacking that conscription which was so vitally necessary for the preservation of New Zealand and the rest of the Empire from domination by the barbaric Huns. Their venom was all directed against "militarism," entirely ignoring the fact that we enrolled the manhood of the country to put an end to mili tarism, and the terms imposed on the Germans as the result of the Allies victory conclusively show that the object in view has been attained, in spite of the craven hearts that deliberately refrained from giving a helping hand when the fate of the country and the Empire was in the balance. All the vapid frothing about territorial training merely demonstrated how completely the speakers failed to understand its value as the producer of strong, virile, healthy men. It is only reasonable to assume that these ranters would like the rest of the community to be composed of beings nationally, mentally and physically warped, devoid of patriotism, and fit only for institutions for the feebleminded. The pity of it is that these pacifists should have chosen a time to air their vocabulary of strong epithets when thousands of our brave men, who have shed a halo of glory on the Dominion, are returning from their war work with the terrible experience of German ruthlessness and remorselessness that would have been exercised to the full in New Zealand if the enemy had triumphed over the Allies. One of the reckless speakers said there was no reason why the "conscientious objector" should remain in gaol unless it was on account of the vindictiveness of the National Government, and that assertion was applauded, to the lasting shame of his associates. These shirkers were sent to prison because they broke the law, and there is not the slightest reason why they should be released until their sentences expire. When we recognise the immensity of the issue at stake, demanding the service of every fit man that could be spared, then only will the enormity of the shirkers' offence be-i come apparent. A Socialist went so far as to say that men like the Hon. G. W. Eussell were guilty of the foullest and bloodiest murder, because the speaker had lost three nephews in the war. This same gentle orator went on to say that the men who stayed at home and sent those boys out to die in their thousands we're so disgusting that he marvelled at their impudence to walk the streets. It is a pity that the author of this mad tirade cannot be I made to have his ideas reorganis-' ed by having to-experience some | of the tortures inflicted by the Germans. The vision of beings'

I like him is limited to the confines of their own back yard. They are with us but not of us, and their colossal ignorance is only equalled by a cowardice that seeks a hiding place behind a blatancy and scurrility that shames all real manhood. The Minister is to be com.mended for the firmness of his reply that he would not move a hand's turn to obtain the release of the men at present in prison, and that he was prepared to contost the Avon seat and stand or fall by the verdict. He uttered some home truths about military training that would appeal to any common-sense persons, but those whom he addressed can certainly not claim to be in that category. Words fail to adequately express the detestation which all patriots feel at the conduct of the shirkers, and it is a relief to know that the law is to take its course. The time of danger is past, but we cannot forget that when help was sorely needed there were strong men who slunk away leaving oihers to bear the burden of saving the country. The law reached out its arm and dealt with these shirkers, and the Government is only reflecting the will of the great majority of the people in not letting these law breakers sully the community with their presence until they have expiated their heinous offence.