THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10633, 11 May 1912, Page 5

THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE

JtBOJO! YES A STORiMY DEPUTATION. (By Telegraph —Tress Assnciatton.) OHIMSTCff f IiJfCH, Last Night. A deputation of women waited on ihe Minister of Defenco -to-day, rc military training. I'b w-as very evident that some of those present took merely ii theoretical interest in the question, while on the other hand there were those who, as mothers of lads who had suffered, imprisonment, felt a very poignant interest. Tho interview was a remarkable one. Some of the speakers stated their views with a volubility and extruviUg;ance of language which took away from the deputation's protest any dignity ib might have .had. Tho deputation was introduced by

Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., and quite a number of ivomen insisted on. speaking. The Minister .attempted unsuccessfully to stem the torrent of

speeches, and finally. Ihe rose and insisted on making his reply. He said 43nat Bie fully recognised the earnest spirit of the speakers, and this was certainly the most frank deputation ■lie liad ever received. When the

ladies took up any matter that appealed -to their consciences, there was no anoro in earnest. Ho was not surprised , -at their earnestness, and neither was Jia surprised at their extravagant language. Tho Minister was not allowed to proceed very far before a. babel of dissent broke out, and re-

marks of a painfully free sort were addressed to !him from a section of tlie audience. Quite a number of ladki who were taking the affair qui«tl,y saf back aid smiled. Finally, .Mr Isitt rose and made a remonstrance, and -Mr Myers was allowoJ +0 proceed. The Minister ;venr-on to say th.it pc-isonially, having lo.it his father at an early age, lis had been in a position to fully appreciate tlie..care of a good mother, and .he _ recognised that women were more directly and indirectly interested than men in the Act. He intended to speak very

frankly to them. They resented the encroachments on their rights and privileges, "Taut they muet recognise their responsibilities. Tho system liatl J)e?n brought in to keep a free country freer, and to keep it as free m possible. (An incredulous whistle tamo from tho audience. It may have lieen one of the liadies). Mr Myers

resumed, and said that lie believed the defence system would strengthen parental control over 'the voting. (There was another outburt of dissent and some vigorous "Noes!") Mr Myers replied that parental control was waning, and there was nothing more 1 c'.ilcvJiated to strengthen it than ■f T-jo discipline which the hoys would learn in camps. ('[his evoked a frtxiitiy outburst and cries of "Conscripts! I «tc.)Undaunted, -Mr Myers started again. 7 fhis •' was mi ago of great armaments, he said. The niuro they were prepared.for war the loss liko■l v they were to get it. ("It menus more war," the deputation contradicted. "A Prime Minister can betray his country!" some one cried.) Mr Myers showed that no' intended to carry out 'his duty. He declined to consider the defence question from the point of political expediency. Ho would not do that with -any question. So far as he was concerned, and in spite of threats of wipping out the ttpito of threats of wiping out the self, the law would lie carried out. The deputation could put people in power to represent them, and the law would be altered. There was another noisy demonstration, though several of the leaders called for silence, and appreciated the Minister's statement of the case. Mr Myers appealed to the deputation not to bo obsessed with their own point of view. He hoped that they -would never have a foreign foe here > carrying out attrocities, which he could not refer to in the presence of women. There was 110 such thing as conscription. ("It is conscription! came the reply.) "You have made up your minds," said Mr Myers, "lhe training is to help our men to repel <lll invasion of our hearths and ■homes." ("Rot!" was the elegant in- , terpolation by a tady with a strong voice.) Mr Myers took exception to tips interjection ,ancl several members , of the deputation indicated their dis- ' T> Mr Myers concluded the interview , with, the very, definite statement "So long as T am Defence Minister and a member of Parliament, ami consider that the Act. is in the best, interests of the community, 1 intend to support it." He regretted the display of feeling and advised the ladies to look on all sides of the question. - "We have been reading the militarv journals," one of them retorted.