MORE ABOUT DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1423, 25 April 1912, Page 4

MORE ABOUT DEFENCE.

PREMIER A XI) SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. fflr Teleerasli.-I'resa Association.) Auckland, April 24. A deputation representing the Society of Friends and other organisations opposed to the IMeuco Act waited upon Hie Prime Minister and tho Hon. Mr. Myers (Minister for Defence) this afternoon. Mr. Taylor introduced the deputation, and said that they felt assured from what they had read in the newspapers that the Prime Minister had strong sympathy with the young people who had been imprisoned tor conscientious objections to military training. Mr. Taylor also mentioned that he had read that General Godleyhad expressed a like sympathy. He referred to a statement that the Prime Minister did not wish to see youths treated as criminals. He also spoke at length in regard to the experience of youths imprisoned recently at Lyttelton Gaol. He considered that suck treatment should not be meted out to them.

Mr. John Harlc submitted a number of publications issued by the Society of Friends in Great Britain urging intending immigrants not to come to Xew Zealand owing to compulsory military training was in operation here. Twenty thousand and more of these publications had been •circulated to various trades and labour organisations, etc., throughout Great Britain. It was felt also that-New Zealand would be used as a cat spav to compel those at Home to go in fur conscription. Mr. Morris said that militarism was repugnant to him, and to those who felt as he did, and this feeling of repugnance was as strong as life ifc-elf. lie asked whero this sort of thing was going to slop, and 'emphasised tho cost which it would moan to the country. It would bo found to bo more than' it could stand.

Tho lion. T. Mackenzie said that, as tlie.v know. Parliament had decided to have a Defence Act placed on tho statute book, and that measuro had boon passed after tho calm deliberation of that body. Tlii» Act being on the statute book they, as an Administration, were there to carry out the- law. While this was so, Cabinet could and had given consideration to individual casos. He sympathised with those who, for conscientious scruples, had bpen imprisoned. When the Act. was passed it was tint contemplated that imprisonment would follow by reason of civil action. It «•«•! Ml wry well for Mime members of (lie deputation' to iii-ro the Government to ci-aM- defence workf If other nations did so thai would he all risht, but if we itfrninoil from training for tho defence of our iMiiulry envious' rye- from abroad miuM bo easl on n< al an hour when I'nclnnil could not irivo us defence, and tin-: W.uiliful coimlry would bo taken nwiiy from \is. WliiNt they had objected l» tvainimr. they bad nn(. snjrpostod wbnt thoy wiM'o pronavod to do in lieu of tlio timo Ill.lt others wore civim for tho dc iViii-o of tlii- cmiutry. Had they any sniri!i>vliiui< l<> oH>r in Ili.ll rosiicrt ? When (ho H.Mivo met no doubt tho subject would lie ji'ijtm o'lio into with a view In dealing in a dilViM'out , mnniier wtih the question i'f iMinMinteul.

11l \vw\v d< n vrr)iiot{ for a y>lp<k» (lint an amcmlmcul of tlio Art >voulrt b? intiM.lilcvl, tln> rtinu' Mi»i>tor said tint Ilini «■:>« n matter fm- tho Cabinet to <?i>. riili>. K<>|' his to ft Iliorp cmilil !>p no roill.! I«,ipU from a wsloin of ilofouoo sneli n = wiMilil (i'iiin oiii- [iiMiili' lo defend tlioir <-li»i-i".. Mf. WnV.lil uinlpi-lonk <*<. (lip ronnpsf- of (lio l'i'imp at 111" noxl meptiiic; »'V lli<> Sooioly of I'nVniN to linvp imf in I'lnuMvli" form wlin)- sprviro ooiisriontions iiliiivlors woulil l.io ni'pparod 'n u'ivo llio Slnlo ill lifii <:it mililflry fr.iininc.