CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 April 1939, Page 8

CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

CANADIAN DECISION.

OPPOSITION LEADER’S SUPPORT.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. OTTAWA, March 31.

Unqualified support for the Government decision against conscription for foreign service in the event of war, was voiced by Dr. Manion, the Conservative Opposition leader, continuing a foreign policy debate in the House of Commons. He said that all Canadians should serve on the same footing, profiteering should be rigidly suppressed and war profits controlled. He agreed that decision on a war issue by vote of Parliament was the only policy for Canada. Mr J. S. Woodsworth. leader of the Canadian Commonwealth Party, disagreed with both leaders that Canada should lend every resource at home to Britain if the latter were at war. He said the British policy was controlled by the ruling classes and Canada should declare her neutrality immediately. Answering criticism that neutrality would mean Canadian independence from the Empire, he declared: “Let us have independence.” The Minister for Justice, Mr E. Lapointe, said that dictators were depending on a fallacy if they were hoping for the break-up of the British Empire. He- declared that no Canadian government could remain neutral while Britain was at war.