The Press. WEDNESDAY, MAY 1. 1912. "TRAITORS TO NEW ZEALAND"

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14343, 1 May 1912, Page 8

The Press. WEDNESDAY, MAY 1. 1912. "TRAITORS TO NEW ZEALAND"

In another column we» publish letters from Mr C. Reginald Ford and Mr C. R. N. Mackie, organiser of tbo National Peace and Anti-Militarist Council, ,"n reply to an article in "Tho Press" condemning the dastardly attempts which tho anti-militarists aro making by tho circulation of untruthful pamphlets in England to stop emigration to New Zealand and generally to damage New Zealnnd in the eyes of the British public. We acropt at oiioo Mr Ford's denial that he has had anything to do with verbally or personally inciting; tho Senior Cadets to acts of impudence, and insubordination. We hope all his anti-militarist friends are equally innocent in tho matter. We regret we cannot absolve his writings from harmlessness in this respect. When we find ho devotes pages of his pamphlet to seeking to prove that the Cadet system is an evil thing and'says (pago 14) —"Pages might bo filled with " irrefragable evidence as to tho moral " damage, not benefit, resulting to "youths under a military organisai- " tion," wo think such statements are not only unjustified, but calculated to encourage disaffection amons any cadets into whoso hands tho pamphlet may fall. Mr Ford also informs us that Mi Gregory of Bristol has mado use cf his pamphlet without finft asking his

permission. He docs not tell ns whether he intends to withhold that permission or not, and whether ho intends to ask Mr Gregory to withdraw , the invitation to h'* readers to " £ond -kl to .lO'-J " Hereford street Christehurch for " complete copy of M<r Ford's pninph- " let." Mr Ford then Roes on to sny: "It may help to make my position "clearer when I inform yon that 1 " refused for sonic little time to take •'part, in the movement against tho '' Defence Act, solely on the ground of "a cablo which had been sent Home to " Mr Keir Hardio. I believe the De- '• fence Act to bo a wrong and dnnger- " ous measure, but I am quite content , ; 'to work in this country alono in a "constitutional* mauuer for its ro"peal." Tho cablo messago referred to is quoted at length in Mr Gregory's pamphlot, surrounded by the injunction, in thick black typo— ■' Parent?, " Protect your Boys and don't Emi- " Krate to New Zealand or Australia "while these Outrages on Parental " Ilights are possible." Tho cablo message is from the Secretary of tho Anti-Militarist Council, Christchurch, and runs as follows: —"Compulsory " military training now enforced. De- " mocrats protest strongly. Youths " conscientiously refusing imptrisonod. " Assist us. Warn Jiritisli Democracy " their sons coming here will bo enslaved." Mr Ford tells us that in consequence of this message, ho "re--fused for some littlo time" to take any part in tho agitation against tlio Defence Act. This seems to us a very mild stand to take against tho circulation throughout tho British Empiro of a cable message, so utterly misleading, and so calculated to create a prejudice against the country which gives him protection and enables him to earn his livelihood. Mr Ford says he is responsible only for what ho has written himself. We take leave to say that his pamphlet is a series of hysterical denunciations against the system of national training, written apparently without his having taken the trouble to ascertain exactly in what tho system consists.' It is full of perversions and suppressions which are eminently calculated to prejudice tho minds of tho ignorant against a systom of national defence, which is tho law of tho land, and which, in our opinion, is essential to its preservation. It is Mr Ford who is responsiblo for the grotesque misstatement which Mr Mackie again quotes in his letter, that under the law of New Zealand a Territorial can bo put to death for striking or offering violence to an officer in tho execution of his duty. Wo challongo I Mr Ford to find a single lawyer of ' standing in Christchurch who will support this view, and if ho finds ono wo will cheerfully refund tho fee paid for tho consultation. If ho is unable to do this, we should like to ask how he can justify his publication of such a statement with his responsibility as a citizen to tho country in which ho lives. Mr Mackio's letter consists for the most part of tho repetition of statements which have been disproved ovor and ovor again, and therefore need not detain us long. Ho repeats the "calcu- " lated inexactitude" (1) that "compul- " sory military training was rushed I " through Parliament before it was dis- " cussed by the people." It was urged upon tho Government by leading public I men and newspapers years boforo it was adopted. In 1909 Mr McNab addressed , meetings throughout the colony, including ono in Christchurch, ] and tho proposal was generally received with enthusiasm. Tho Defence Act was passed in 1909 without any material 1 opposition. Jn 1910 tho amended Defence- Act, providing for tho present scheme in detail, passed its second reading without a division. It was most fully discussed, and not n sign of active opposition came from the public. On tho contrary theBill was thoroughly approved. In reply to tho next question (2) we re-ply that "conscription" in all countries where it prevails involves life in barracks and tho cessation of tho recruit's ordinary employment during tho period of his military service. When the anti-militarists call tho New Zealand system "conscription," it is merely an illustration of their method of using misleading language for tho purpose of exciting prejudice in the public mind. (3) It is quite truo that those who refuse to take the first step towards the defence of their country are disqualified from being ojirollcd as electors or taking Government pay. If a citizen refuses to accept any liability i for the defenco of his country, what j right has ho to a voice in its governj ment. or .to Government employment? I (-1) Wo only remember one caso of a J lad iMsing imprisoned twice for refusing to register, but under the Act continued refusal to register is a continuing offence. (5) Wβ do not know [ of any such admission ac that referred to by our correspondent having been made, and do not know how any Magistrate can say positively what is tho state of mind regarding religion of any person brought before him. The Act provides that '"'nothing in this " Act shall require any person to bear ''arms or perform or undergo military " service or training if the doctrines "of religion forbid him to.do so." J This is a very different thing from exempting any person who chooses to I say ho has conscientious objections I against serving. (6) Has already l)een ! dealt , with. Dike Mr Ford, ' Mr Mackie refuses to accept, either on behalf of himself or of the Peace Council, any responsibility for tho circulation of the literaturo in England. Wo find, howj ever, in Mr Gregory's pamphlet the following extract from a letter dated December 14th last, purporting to have been received from "Mr Louis P. " Christie (secretary of the National

"Peace and Anti-Militarist Council. "Now Zealand), of Christchurch, Now "Zealand:— '))? shall bo clad of as much publicity as possible being given to our cause, as nothing troubles our Government and Press so much ri i ncm " t' iat People who arc likely to emigrate here arc being warned ng a ; nst so doing. . . Wo feel that our movement is an Einpiro one, and that we are really lighting the battle of Britain against Conscription." Was this letter sent on behalf of the Council, and were Mr Mackie and Sir Ford members of the Council at that lime. If so, how can they disavow responsibility for tho detestable libels which are being circulated against this colony in England at tho present juncture?