ANTI-MILITARISM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 109, 10 May 1909, Page 7

ANTI-MILITARISM.

» At a Labour conference held at Lower Hutt to-day, under the auspices of the Hutt branch of the National Single Tax League. Mr. R. Gosse presiding, Mr. E. T. Evans moved: — "That this meeting condemns the unconstitutional and arrogant action of the Government in promising two Dreadnoughts to the Home Government without consulting 'Parliament ; and events having proved that our Government was frightened by a bogey raised by the unscrupulous lory party of Britain for party purposes, this meeting is of opinion that Parliament should refuse its sanction to the proffered gift, ' more especially as the public debt of New Zealand is now about £70,uu0,000, and the Dominion is sorely in need of money for railway construction and for very necessary roads and bridges, with all of which requirements Britain is well supplied, which her enormous land values and accumulated capital lightly taxed would yield a revenue much more than sufficient to provide the additional armaments deemed necessary by the military and naval authorities." Mr. P. Robertson seconded the resolution, which was supported by Mr. E. Whittaker, Mr. G. Uload, and Mr. E. C. Evans, and carried unanimously. 'The chairman moved : — "That this .neeting is uncompromisingly opposed to the proposal of the Government to establish a system of compulsory military training, while more than half of the people are deprived of their natural i-ights and robbed of their share of the community-created value of land ; and urges the workers of every part of the Dominion to hold public meetings and make indignant protest against any such compulsion, signifying at the same time their firm resolve to refuse military service until they are granted their God-given rights, equal freedom, and the full and just reward of their toil." Mr. Warren seconded the motion. Mr. J. King moved as an amendment: — "That the workers refuse military service unless the landholders were made to bear a fair share of the cost of defence." The amendment was not seconded, and the original was carried with one dissentient.

Mr. F. W. Marchant, C.E., has communicated the information to the Gisborno Boiough Council that the .cost of his scheme for the drainage of the town will ccitainly not exceed £60,000. The other schemes recentfy received and re jecled by the ratepayers ran into ovei £100,000. For Colds in the Head and Influenza, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is 6d and 2s 6d per bottle.— Advt.