"OBNOXIOUS."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 108, 8 May 1909, Page 9

"OBNOXIOUS."

COMPULSORY SERVICE CONDEMNED. "THE MAN FROM THE COUNTRY." CREATES A DIVERSION. A preliminary meeting of citizens who are opposed to the movement in favour of compulsory military training was held last night in the rooms of the Wellington branch of the Australasian Seamen's Union. The room was filled to its utmost capacity by between forty and fifty people. An apology for nonattendance was received from Mr. John Hutcheson, and Mr. T. Young intimated that several other gentlemen had sent apologies. Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P., who presided, said that the question they were met to consider was so very serious a one that they were all impressed with the magnitude of it. All the daily newspapers were in favour of the principles the meeting was called to oppose ; many commercial institutions had made of it almost a war cry. The question of military training seemed to him to have come before New Zealand at a time when it would be madness to give effect to it. (Hear, hear.) The Opposition had been making an outcry about the need for economy, and blaming the Government ; yet it was giving its supfiort to the agitation for militarism, t seemed to him, as he had said during his election speeches, that this indicated the existence of a gross spirit of hypocricy in the field of our national politics. The men saddled with responsibilities' should be more honest, more straight-forward, in dealing with the affairs of this Dominion. He did not admit for one instant that the idea of universal service was right; but, presuming that it was right, ho would still say that this country could not face the financial drain which it would entail. Mr. P. J. O'R-egan said that the difficulty in opposing the movement was the fact that no definite proposal had been put forward. Everything was nebulous. He called upon the other side to select one of the many proposals set forward, if it was desirous of having a fight and a clear decision on the matter. He then criticised the several proposals, and moved : "That this meeting resolves itself into a committee to take such steps as may be deemed necessary in order tb combat the agitation in favour of compulsory military training." In speaking of his motion, he said that he would be prepared to discuss the question when, those who had the land and were to be fought for gave proof, by consenting to direct special taxation, to meot the expense, that they were prepared to do their part. The two outstanding features of the schemes brought down in New Zealand were meanness and unparalleled audacity. He commented upon nevespaper advocacy, and said ho did not care two straws for newspapers, nor even for public opinion. He did not take public opinion for his guidance. He knew, as a man who was fairly well educated, that this proposal was obnoxious and detrimental. They heard a lot about the failure of the present volunteer system, but he wished to comment that those who were foremost in condemning it were men who who were paid big salaries by the people. MR. HOGG'S SORROW. Mr. Robert Hogg, who seconded the motion, expressed his sorrow that leaders in the movement had spoken at such length — to the press instead of to the meeting — and thereby had cut l away valuable time from the rank and file. As a Socialist, believing in the brother hood of man, he was in opposition to conscription of all kind, no matter whether the cost was great or small. OTHER MEN'S VIEWS. Mr. Bedford, senior, said he was in favour of every young man in the country being able to defend it, when neces^ sarv but he wished to say that it was necessary to go back tc Trafalgar to find an act of warfare by England which was not one of aggiession. He supported military training on the line of our volunteer system, and training that would be paid for. Mr. Robinson said that the system of militarism and conscription "stank" ; the people, he contended, had not enough to fight for in the right to live precariously, -which was all that the bulk of them possessed. . "THE MAN FROM THE COUNTRY." "I'm just down from the country," said a stranger who rose in the body of the hall at this stage, and asked to be allowed to put a question. Receiving permission, he continued : "I came to the meeting, but I'd like to know what the exact feeling of you all here is, so that there. will be no misunderstanding. Will the working-men of this country sit down and let the country be given over to those who have no regard tor liberty, and who would be the oppress ors ? (Voices : No, no !) Well, if you j are that way of thinking ; if you are j against those who would be for autocracy, and who would have no regard ■ for the rights or liberties of the people, I think before carrying resolutions like this we should make provisions to do | fend our own homes ! If you carried j that motion it would show that this j meeting was "unanimously against any , kind of military training. (Mr. I O'Regan : No, no. Othei voici-s : Hear, ! hear !). 1 At this stage the chairman made a diversion by reminding the speakex that although he had got up to put -i question he was making a speech. Mr. Robert Hogg pleaded with the chairman to be allowed to give a telling pnswer.to "the man from the country,"' that would convince even hip. After some further talk the permission was accorded. Mr. Hogg : 1 say to you this — What does it matter to me whether the capitalist here or the capitalist from outsids is going to exploit me? What difference can it make? The "man from the country" replied with a pithy presentation of the case that could have been expanded into a column. "At the present time," he said, "most of the people here have the franchise, which they can exercise in safety, and successfully fight any local capitalist they are aggrieved by. Bui. if the foreign capitalist came in and took the country, the only argument that would be available would be tha bayonet. And if none of us could use it, vrhere would we be?" The motion was then put, and declared carried unanimously. MOVING THE TRADES COUNCIL. On the motion of Mr. Young, it was resolved to set up a special committee to interview the Tradps and Labour Council, and other public bodies, with a view to enlisting their sympathies. A general executive, of ten persons, was set up to arrange for a public meeting and to undertake other preliminary business.

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