THE DEFENCE ACT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14988, 8 June 1914, Page 10

THE DEFENCE ACT.

ASTI-MILITABISTS' PROTESTS

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MIMSTEE-.

ME MASSEY'S REPLY.

i A larce deputation of anti-militarists, introduced by Mr J. McCombs, M.P., waked on the Prinio Minister on Saturday morning. Mr J. P. Fletcher, President of the Ami-Militarist League, pointed out the danger of fostering the. military spirit, which militated against peace, j and an example of that was shown in i tho remarks recently made by Sir lan Hamilton, who indicated that war with a certain nation was inevitable. The National Peace Council considered that the Government of Now Zealand should get in touch with the Japanese Government and endeavour to allay tho feeling of resentment caused by Sir lan Hamilton's remarks. Tho Council ai&o thought that a Government Department should be set up to promote international good feeling and peace and do its best to mako war impossible. DeEnite stops should bo taken to brmg about a reduction in the increasing cost of armaments, and it was an experiment that should be started by .New Zealand, tho land of exi-erimcnte. Mrs Wells, president of the Canterbury Women's Institute, said sho objected to the whole Act, locK, stock and barrel, as sho consideied it was doing incalculable haxin to tho children in numerous waye. Miss M. Lloyd, representing tho fcoeiety of Frienos, also spoke. Mr C. R- N. Mackie, secretary or the National Peace Council, said the Council stood for the repeal of the Defence Act absolutely and unconditionally. Tho Council believed tho Defence Act was, as it stood, a menace to the peace of tho world. MR MASSEY'S REPLY. In reply, Mr Massey said he had been "very pleased to hear the ideas of the deputation, bit he might state at once that he did not agree with the views put forward, and looked at the matter from a totally different standpoint, though ho made it clear that he was just as ansious to preserve peace as any member of the deputation. "How long would the Empire last," ho said, "if we did not keep it iv a state of defence? You know very well it would last but a short time. And if it is right from an Empiro point of view to keep in a state of defence, then it is right from the point of view of any part of that Empire, and New Zealand, I am pleased to think, is no unimportant part of the Empire." Thero was no way out of it, Iho continued, but for New Zealand to continue to take steps to adequately defend herself if the necessity arose. Thoro was no better governed country lin the world than Switzerland, and I they all knew, or should know, what lan elaborate system of national defenco I had been organised in that country. Ho utterly disagreed w: l h the i opinions that had been expressed to the effect that military training had j an adverse effect upon the J va'the; men of the country. "We are a young peoole," he said, forcibly, "and we must be prepared to j protect ourselves, and there is no other I way to protect ourselves but to have tho manhood of the country trained to arms. Untrained men are worse than useless under rrodorn conditions of warfaro. I speak from the point of view of a father; 1 have a very good idea of the horrors of war, and though my sons are outside the age wron mci are liable for training, yefc I shou'a be ashamed of the name they bore if j they declined to do their duty to t*eir country. If a eon of mine refused to do his duty I would disown him - . ,. It had suggested that New Zenlnnd Go\-ern merit c ho'ild "apolo!?ise" for the word , " used by Sir lan Hamilton. B> would' not countonarco anything of the sort, nor would he remain a member of a Government who would -Io puoh a thing. In his opinion, it would be a most Triwarrantab'e, reflection udod a distinguished soldier, who had rendered the most valuable services to the Empire. They had sn<rs r e*ted that the I>efence Act was bad. Well, he not say that it was perfect, and he admitted that it might be capable of i nproypment, but he would feel glad if tho members of the Peaco Council would etiKcest any amendments . that would render the Act more easily worked. lie had no doubt that the pentlemen in tho room would be quite- willing to do their share iv the defence of the country if it was necessary, but ho emphasised tho fact that any echemo of adequate defenco was impossible with untrained men. Hp bplipved that the scheme of defence was approved by the majority of the people of the country. (Strong dissent.) The present Government had not put the Act on th 6 Statute Book, but "it took full responsibility for it. The Government affirmed the principle of the training of tho youths of the Dominion, for it considered that it was their plain duty in easo of war. "The present Government is going to stand o- fall by the Defence Act, , ' ho concluded, "and it will not go back on, ifc. in the slightest degree." Tho deputation then withdrew.