CONSCRIPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 49, 26 February 1916, Page 6

CONSCRIPTION.

SPEECH BY PROF. BEDFORD. TO HILLSIDE RAILWAY WORKERS. Professor H. D. Bedford addressed a large meeting of railway employees at the Hi,Hside workshops recently, when a resolution was adopted in favour of the organisation of all the men, wealth,; and industries of the Dominion for assisting the nation successfully to end the war.' In the course of his address, as reported in the "Railway Review," Professor Bedford said:—"l have responded with alacrity to your invitation to discuss with you the subject of conscription, because I have for many months held the opinion that its adoption is urgent. My remarks will be confined chiefly to the conscription of men, not because conscription of wealth is of small importance, but because the former is more immediately pressing. Were I a public man, I would stump New Zealand on the subject. I want you to understand that, while this war lasts, my desire for economic reform, however beneficial, is quite subordinate to the speedy abasement of the Germans. I therefore wish to concentrate just now on the deepest need of the hour—the compulsory service of all suitable men in the fighting ranks. Do not think I fail to appreciate other needs. My blood boils with indignation at the supineness of our Government respecting the cost of living and war pTOfits. Our people have been shorn like sheep by high prices, and there has been no tempering of the wind to them. J believe that, in a war like this, the principle of compulsory service should be applied to wealth as well as to men. Every single penny of war profit should be taken for the war. To-day we have the spectacle of many men dying for the noblest cause for which swords can be drawn, and many growing fat, sleek, and infinitely rich by exploiting that cause. I am willing to speak on these matters on any convenient occasion, but to-day I would address myself to the problem of providing the Empire with the necessary nuinbeT of soldiers. Professor Bedford then gave a vary forcible series of arguments in favour of compulsion. The very essence of democracy is compulsion and subordination of the individual's will to the State. As democrats, he said, have we not to reason in this way: 'The prosecution of this war to victory is for the highest well-being of the people organised as a State. To secure that victory we need a certain number of men. We will therefore make a levy for the purpose on all those who are fit for service.' Democracies get the will of the majority of the people as to what is needed, and then apply compulsion to execute it. The voluntary principle is too laggard. We lost Gallipoli through it. It leads to too many married men enlisting, thereby increasing the financial burden on the State, and increasing the j number of mourners and 3uiTerc7s in case i of disablement and death. It is eugeni-j cally unsound, offering as food for cannon too large a proportion of our highestspirited youths. It is operating unfairly to the advantage of the rich man. I know personally many largo families of stalwart sons, not one of whom has volunteered; because they are making too much money." Professor Bedford urged the men to adopt a motion clearly mdi* eating the strong feeling there was that there ehould also be conscription of wealth, but at the same time expressing willingness for unconditional conscription of men."