"A WITHERING BLIGHT" THE STIGMA OF PRISON.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 28, 1 August 1912, Page 8

"A WITHERING BLIGHT" THE STIGMA OF PRISON.

Mr. A. M'Kay (Pelorus Sound), speaking in the Farmers' Union» Conference to-day, described it as a most cruel thing to send a lad to prison for offences, under the compulsory clause of tho Defence Act. He did not always 1 act for himself, but on the advice of others. He thought if, instead of imprisonment, th© lads who were guilty of offences under the Act were put on a training ship, they would be saved from the withering blight of socialism ; and they would fall into line within forty-eight hours; also they would be saved from the stigma of imprisonment. He moved — "That the Defence Act be so amended as to abolish imprisonnient under the compulsory clauses of the Act, and substitute therefor service on a training ship." Mr. T. W. Foster (Southland) said it was a shame to send young men to prison for what was not a crime. Mr. Matheson (Canterbury) asked if conscientious objectors would be excluded? He spoke as an unorthodox Quaker and did not agree with all they did in this country ; but it was a most dangerous thing for any State to do violence to a man's conviction. There would be a way, ho felt sure, to deal with loafers who sought exemption under the shield of conscientious objection. Mr. S. Chambers (Hawkes Bay) instanced the case of some conscientiousobjectors in a "camp who, when work was given them to do in deference to their consciences, found it easier (because the work was heavier) to drop it., and they soon applied for rifles. Mr. Matheson moved a* an amendment, that the words bo added to the motion "that opportunity of alternative Bervice under civil conrol bo given in the case of conscientious objectors." The addition to the motion was carried.

The monthly meeting of the local Anti. Militarist League wiH be held to-morrow night in the Socialist Hall. Messrs. E. Johnston and Co. udvertise a sale of building material and 350 sheet* of iron to be held by them to-morrow morning at 10.30 at the Neg's Head yards, Dixon-streot. To-morrow afternoon, commencing at 1.30 o'clock, in their rooms, they will hold an auction sale of W. B. Hardy's nursery stock.