MILITARY OFFENDERS.

THE RIPA ISLAND CASES,

GRIEVANCES VENTILATED.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT.

DEPUTATION TO MR MASSEY.

(Peb . DKITED Piuas ' Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 4. Tho Unity Congress to-day received a communication from Mr F. Cook (Socialist) who enclosed tho following letter from Ripa. Island, dated July 2:— " Comrades,—On behalf of the _13 _ antimilitarisfc lads imprisoned on this island j wo eand you this statement of our condition, and tho circumstances which led up to it. From tho first we aU absolutely refused to do drill of any description, and boyond a few threats and attempts at coaxing us into submission nothing was done. On Juno 19, however, wo refused to do any work at all, the trouble being over a lighter load of coal that was towed here, and which we wero asked to unload. Previously to this strike we wero quartered in the barracks room and wero living very well, but directly tho striko took placo we were courtmartialled and sentenced _ to solitary confinement with half rations. These rations consisted of a slioo of bread with slight traces of butter and a small mug of lukewarm slushy tea for tea. For breakfast wo had the same for tea, and for dinner as well, with a pieco of meat and two small potatoes. We held out until lato 'in tho afternoon of the 21st when, seeing that tho state of.things was not improving, wo communicated with* each other and declared the striko off, and returned to tho old condition of things, still refusing to drill, or clean, or handle armaments. On tho 22nd Lieutenant M'Donald, who has charge of this establishment, interviewed us together in tho barracks, and told us that tho work was running short on the island, and that when this ordinary work ran out there would bo nothing to do except the cleaning of the guns in the fort and that, if we did not caro to do this, he would be compelled to lock us up together in the baiTacks room. He assured us at the same time ,that ho would not compel us to do _ any work that was objectionable to our principles, neither would ' he bo so mean as to put us on short rations bccause the ordinary work on tho island had run out.' (I have here quoted the words he used.) All went well until the afternoon of Juno 30 when we were all collected into the barracks room and told that there was no more work to do unless we undertook to clean tho big guns and tho gun-pits. We wero asked individually if wo would do this class of work, and from everyone of us they received an . emphatic 'No' for answer. Wo were then asked if we would learn signalling, and to this we all refused again. We decided between ourselves that if the lieutenant broke his word to us that we would declare a ' hunger strike' and starve to death before we would sink our principles (portion of sentence here omitted). Wo were shortly afterwards taken to solitary confinement. That/ night at tea-time 10 out of our party of 13 refused the miserable half-rations that were brought to us. It was bitterly cold and our bedding was not brought to us until about 7 o'clock, and was token away again the next morning. On the morning of July_ 1 tho lieutenant came to the island and interviewed caoh of us, and his statement to mo is typical of that which he delivered to all of us. He said that he was going to mako us clean the guns, and that, furthermore, 'he 'was not going to bo satisfied with work alone but was going to get drill out of us as well this time.' This decided us. We will stick to our principles to the last. It is now tho morning of July 2, and 10 of us have refused to accent the fifth meal that has been offered us. Three of our number are already ill, one seriously, and it makes no difference as we have decided that if we aTC not allowed to return to the barracks room and given our full rations, wo will be carried off this island dead, or as near dead> as our tormentors -will allow us to get. By the time this ieaohc6 you wc shall all of us probably be too exhausted to writo any more. Our message to you, our comrades, is to fight hard—' No quarter, no compromise, jio 6111' render.' We are prepared to play the game to the last. All we ask is for you to do the same. Let the world know that this little country is game enough to ohallenge the power of the military autocracy which is threatenine to overwhelm the world, and is ruining the workers of tho world. On behalf of the 13 prisoners on this island wo arc, youra in the fight for emancipation.—(Signod) Reg. Williams,. W, J. Hooper, J. K. Worrall. ACTION BY UNITY CONGRESS. A VIGOROUS PROTEST. (Feb United Peess Association.) WELLINGTON, July 4. After the reading of tho letter tho Congress carried a resolution strongly protest, ing against the "wicked, and barbarous method of imposing solitary confinement on boys," and also cajling upon tho Government immediately to release them.. , Mr Gray (Dunodin Waterside Workers) moved for a two hours' suspension of the standing ordors in order that tho delegates could proceed to Parliament House and protest against the action, of the Massoy Government regarding tho boys. Mr "Ellis seconded the motion, which was carried.

It was decided that _ tho matter of arranging for the reception of a. d'epula-' tion bo left in tho hands of tho secretary and president. DEPUTATION TO IIR MASSEY. RELEASE OF THE BOYS DEMANDED. CABINET MEETING TO P.E HELD. (Peii United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 4. A deputation from tho Unity Congress waited on the Prime Minister this evening to place before him its views on tho subject of military detention, and especially tho manner in which It was oarried out. The deputation was introduced by the Hon. J. Rigg (president of the Congress). lie stated tint any' utterances put forward by tile deputation would not be i:i any way committing tho Unity Congress. t Mr J. M'Cullough was the first speaker. He said there could be no doubt that their views were bitterly opposed to tho military system. The deputation was there purely with regard to tho boys on liipa Island, and at Mount Cook, The Unity Conirea had been inunc'<ttc<l with wires in with tho matter. Behind the deputation were some WO representatives of the working classes of Xew Zealand. The Congress had passed a resolution strenuously protesting against tho wicked and barbarous method of imposing solitary confinement on the boys now incarcerated on Ripa Island for refusing military service, and calling npon tho Government, in the interests of humanity, ' immediately to release these boys. He did net think that in the heart of any man or woman there was any desire to punish the bojs in this manner, and they could all ag'reo in demanding tliAt tho Government should immediately release tlwifc who were

•'-ai'ving on Ripa 1 Island. lie knexv a number of boys oil the island. Or.o was :t Sunday school teacher, who had appeared before tho Magistrate and stated his religious objections, but nevertheless, that nun had boon lined £5 and deprived ot his civil rights for two years, even ;ftcr lie bad protested that he desired to pursue his Christian course. lie was now oil Kipa Island, cold, ■ hungry, miserable,

and in a- wretched frame pf mind. They demanded and insisted that brutal and inhuman treatment be discontinued. One of the boys on the island could not complete a letter which ho had Started to write to lvs parents owing to the cold. If If Mr i'l-:ift3ey wished to please the country at large he would release l-hoee boys. They represented 70,000 workers a.nd 250 organisations, and they demanded at ot;ce the reVase of the boys. *

Air Howard said that never in the history of the British nation had such action taken place. In the Lyttelton Gaol there were men convicted of all sorts of e,rimes, and they had not been subjected to such treatment as had those boys. The mother of one had dropped dead while protecting her son from tho Act. The bow' conduct had ken manly light through, and because ol that, they were penalised. If Mr Masscv or his Cabinet had any feeling at all they would recognise that they had no right: to mete out to these boys treatment ivh : eh had not, been accorded to the lowest criminal in the country.

Mr W. T. J Tills said that no obligation rested on the Minister or the Defence Department to administer the law as was being done. TTe instanced the case of five boys on the West Const who. lie said, had boon specially marked' by the department for persecution. Those boys knew that they were to bo summoned, and they offered to report personnlly nt Hipa Island unaccompanied by officers. Thev were niet nt the ArWington station b.v 10 policemen (twice tho number nf bnys), and were osoortof'fo tko dflDOt, THoso fivo boys woo® actively

conncotcd with Mr Webb's politioal party on tho coast. Word had como from IS boys on the island that they wero being treated to solitary Confinement. Ho raised thequcetion whether military detention should have with it solitary confinement and physical discomfort. lie asked that lists should be published in caoh military district , showing thoso who were exempted' from service and fchoso who had not complied with the provisions of the Act. AYhy was it that those who wero well known as being identified, with the Labour movement had their families watched wliile all the time their neighbours got off scot free? If tho relief Bought by tho deputation were not obtained tho country was going to get a lot of information concerning tho carrying out of tho Act. He could assure tho Primo Minister that the authorised spokesmen of Labour wore igoing to support the boys on tho island. The boys had burned no buildings, they had broken no windows, they had threatened no one'e life, and they wero not whero they wero becauso they were not good citizens, but because they were good citizens.

_ Mr Scott Bennett said that certain sections of the community which wero opposed to military training were singled out for persecution. The deplorable stale of the boys should alono exerciso the concern of tho authorities. One lad was suffering from a mild attack of hemorrhage, which might lead to something worse. Another was in a state of semi-consciousness becauso of tho brutal method adopted by tho officials, and all simply bccause tho boys had stood out bravely. They viewed the matter as being very serioua. Some of them believed that tho Act was right, but an overwixlming majority believed it was wrong. All, however, believed ■ that the methods pursued wero damnable. They felt; that the 'matter had gone far enough, and that a firm 6tand must bo taken up, and they wero going to adopt that; course. Mr Massey, in replying, said the position had been put very moderately. From bis point of view none of the lads had been persecuted. They had not fulfilled their obligations under tho Act, and had been fined. They had refused to pay tho penalty, and wero then ordered to undergo military detention. That was the position to date. They had to administer the law as they found it, but they did not boliovo in harsh treatment. Tho boys shojild have food and clothing sufficient for their needs. . A Voice: We had to send them clothes.

Mr Massoy said he was utterly oppo6ed to anything in tho way of victimisation, and if it existed it weuld be put down.—("Hear, hear.") He could assure the deputation that a Cabinet meeting would be arranged for to-morrow, and their representations would bo convoyed to the Cabinet. It mustbo considered that the legislation was-in the

experimental stage. He would not say it was perfect; He would endeavour to meet tho position, but tho spirit of tho Act would bo maintained. Tho people were behind the Act. A Voice: That is not so. Mr , Massey said the Government would stand or fall by the principle o'f the Act. Ho could not understand a religious objector being convicted as stated by Mr M'Oullough. In tlie meantime tho comfort of the iboys would be provided for, and if any of them wore ill

Mr Sullivan: Can we tell the people outsido that solitary confinement will be discontinued?

Mr Massey: I can't do that The Governor is "the only person who can. Mr Allen supplemented tho Prime _ Minister's remarks. He 6aid' 'that if victimisation existed it would cease. Ho hoped l the party represented by the deputation would assist him to Ret over tho difficulty of the conscientious objector. That was the wholo trouble. ■ If an alternative service could be devised with tlie help of tho deputation they would be able to overcome the difficulty. Some, he knew, objected to service of an kind. ,

A Voice: Yes; compulsory. ' Mr Allen: If you w.ill assist me in this matter the difficulty will bo overcome. While those detained wero workin" thefood supplied was the Game as was supplied to the Royal Artillery, but if they wero not working tho rations were, in the opinion of the medical officer, sufficient. The blankets and wearing apparel were, in the minds of the authorities, sufficient. DEBATJ? IN PARLIAMENT. MR ALEN'S REPLY [Feou Our Own Correspondent,) WELLINGTON, July 4. Tho Ripa Island cases were again brought before the House to-day, and attention was directed to the imposition of a further seven days' detention upon several offenders for refusing to obey orders. „ Mr Russell said he had received a letter from Thomas Nutta.ll, who was one of those sentenced for refusing to clean guns. _ That letter ho would read. It ran Without warrant of any description wo were summoned before our magistrate (Mr T. A. B. Bailey) under circumstance which, prevented tho admittance of tho public. TllO whole court wa6 dominated by the presence of at least five military officers, besides numerous gnawers. We had no hope of conducting a defence on the spur of the moment. Though we had the lieutenant's word that he oould not punish us in any way, yet ho oonfmed us in cells which were eventually oondemned by a Lyttelton doctor, and fed us on rations "which wore far from sufficient.to keep away the pangs of hunger. Wo received but two slices of bread, a very small piece of meat, with two potatoes, and one pint and a-half of tea." "Now I feel sure," said Mr Russell, "that if the. .statements made in this letter aro correct, the Minister of Defence has no sympathy with this kind of thing. If this jjind of management 16 going on im connection with military detention, then the Minister himself will bo the first to put it down and insist that these young men shall bo treated properly." He would ask the ■Sfinister to have a thorough inquiry into the matter. While ho entirely supported tho poKcy of tho Government in connection with military training, he ventured to say that if these sfcateoients were truo the Government would be responsible for creating a very largo amount of symjithy with the ojiti-milita-'riste, which a. great many members in tho Houso wonld exceedingly regret. THE OTHER SIDE. In reply tho Hon. Jas. Allen said he was very glad the hon. gentleman had brought the point up. Ho knew something of what had taken place at Ripa Island, and of courso there wero two sides to tho question. 110 would put ono side, and promise an inquiry into the other. These young men' wero committed to Ripa Island for not paying fines imposed for offeuoes against the Defence Act. They wero asked to do a certain amount of work, and some had refused to do any work at all. In these circumstances the officers were entitled to tako them again before a magistrate. This had been done, but ho knew nothing about tho method of it. Tho magistrate had. committed them to another seven davs' detention.

"Now," said Mr Alien, "I want to eay to the House that the carrying out of this legislation is new and experimental, and wc must do the best we can as our experience develops. I do not want to do anything to create sympathy with tilo antimilitarists; on the contrary, I try to do all that I can to kill that sympathy. The trouble is that tho young men will neither do military duty, nor any other duty. They have told me so personally, but the law must bo upheld." Thero was jio intention, he continued, to provido them with insufficient food; on the contrary, they had been so well fed thait there was. lio single complaint that ho was, aware of. If tho food had been shortened ho .would inquire into it. It may hare been done under a misunderstanding, and 'they would correct ail these errors so far as they could, Mr Russell: Have I your assuranco that you will make a thorough inquiry? . Mr Allen: "Certainly." He added that lie had intimated that lie was asking for a committee of the House tit consider certain definite questions of the. administration of the Act. This would not be a special Defence Committee. . A STUBBORN YOUTH. TERM OF DETENTION EXTENDED. (Feb United Pkss Association.) . WELLINGTON, July 4. Robert Lucas, a Territorial undergoing military detention, was charged at tho Magistrate's Court with refusing to obey orders. He arrived at the Alexandra Barracks on Monday and has sinco refused to obey orders. declined to ,<jivo up his civilian clothes, Uo take a bath, or to do any work. Mr Riddell, 'S.M„ ordered tho defendant to be detained for a furthor term of eevon days.