TO CONSCRIPTION

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 88, 12 October 1915, Page 7

TO CONSCRIPTION

ONLY ONE ANSWER VOLUNTARY UNIVERSAL SERVICE THE WORKERS' WAR. SPEECHES AT A SOCIAL GATHERING. ' Stirring speeches on Labour's attitud* to the war, and the determination to see that gaps are filled, were delivered at a tramwaymen's "social" to departing comrades lasi night. Mr. D. M'Laren, after a reference to the work of the West Coast, as he had seen it, said he Hoped every Labour organisation in this country would come right to the mark as the Tramwaymen had done, and do their level best: "That great and glorious example that has just been set by the British Labour Party, is one that we should be proud to follow, to emulate to the greatest extent that we can." He had been very muck impressed with one pronouncement of the British Trades Union Federation, that : — "So long as the Power that crashed Belgium in the mire, and has plunged the greatest part of Europe into the misery, degradation, and horror of warfare, remains unbeaten there can be no peace !" That statement was direct and plain. "And I say," said. Mr. M'Laren, "there can be no peace, and there should be no peace, until we have crushed the Power that has, first of all, demoralised its own people with the maddest kind of false teaching, and is now seeking to demoralise the whole civilised world, and put in practice doctrines that, if they were ■to succeed, would put the world back centuries." BOLD LEAD WANTED. He believed that he would be echoing the feelings of the country if he said to Ministers : "Be bold." The Dominion wanted a bold lead He would say, not caring a straw how anybody regarded it, we had to get practically universal service — get it in some form or another, but get it they must. (Applause.) That meant that anyone fit for any duty to assist the country must obey the call, whether it meant using a rifle or doing other work. "The only argument that will stand the test of time against conscription is that it is not necessary, that everybody is serving." He gloried in the stand of his fellow-Labourites in the Old Country, who had put aside theories and prejudices and had. seen the situation as it was, had seen the horrors of war at their own doors, and had said, in effect : "We have to have 30,000 recruits weekly or there is going to be conscription." He could not help thinking that the eloquence of Parliamentarians would be of greater service on the platform round the country than, debating small matters in the House. (Applause.) THE MINISTER'S REPLY. The Hon. James Allen, Minister fof Defence, responded to the 'toast of Parliament, which Mr. M'Laren had proposed. He thanked Mr. M'Laren for the way in which he spoke of universal service. Parliament had. set the example by banishing party . differences, and he was happy to be able to say that members of the Cabinet were working harmoniously together for New Zealand and the Empire and to bring this wretched war to a successful close. The Minister congratulated the Tramway Union on the way in which its members had met the situation. "Mr. M'Laren has a broad view of universal service," the Minister continued, "and so have I. I have no belief- in conscription for one moment, but if .we fail in the voluntary scheme then I do not hesitate to say* conscription or any other thing must come." (Loud applause.) He was firmly of opinion that the country and fche people of the country knew their duty and would respond to the call, and there would be no need, to introduce conscription in any form. There were plenty of men waiting to go when their time came. They could register and say when they wished to "be called ■up. That would serve the Defence Department's purpose. Some people said that men should be sent into camp at once, but his staff' advised him, ana j lie firmly believed, that the only way in ■which they -could train men. as efficiently as they had done -was to send them into" camp at fixed times. Apart from the service at the .front there was the work to be done in transport, and production by those who stayed at home, a service almost equal to that given by those who had the privilege of going to the front. It ■was indeed a privilege to sacrifice oneself on the altar of duty. "Need I say anything about what we are up against? You know it as well a-s I >do. This horrible military kultur of the Germans is the essence of cruelty. There is no justice' in it, and our flag has always stood for justice and equity." No man who could" go, but who shirked his responsibility at the present .time, could maintain his self-respect in the years to come. If they were to fulfil the solemn pledge they had given to their mates who had gone they must fill all the gaps. In the next twelve months they would have to find between 20,000 and. 30,000 men. "We can do it by the will of the people, not by the force of the law." The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said that Mr. M'Laren had spoken a real truth when he said that the people of this Dominion would not hesitate to asßimilate new conditions, if necessary, for the purpose of raising men. IN THE NAME OF LABOUH. Another Labour opinion was voiced by Mr. E. J. Carey in giving the toast "Labour and the War." This, he said, was a trade unionists' war, for figures showed that unionists~in England and Australia had sent more men to the front proportionately to their numbers than any other section of the community. Th'e duty of Labour was to give whole-hearted support to the war and everything the British nation stood for. If they wished to avoid German military domination, and to retain the freedom of speech which they had under the British Constitution, they would do so. "In the name of Labour, I say we honour the King, we are proud of the British traditions and of the chivalry of the past, proud of men who are fighting our battles, and we glory in their bravery. We glory in the British aristocracy. ("Oh!") Yes, the aristocracy, for it has heard the call, and whole lines of heirs in the finest families have been killed." After a reference to exploiters who -were taking advantage of the loyalty of the workers, Mr. Carey said there was another man they were not proud oft — the man who wrote in the paper professing to be a Labour paper, belittling the work not only of the Army and Navy, but of his own comrades. The man who did so at such a time was a traitor to his country and a traitor to trades unionism. It was from the rank and file of the workers tht the men were going to Gallipoli and the trenches to-day, and the whole organisation \vas under a man who came from the ranks of the people. (Applause.)

Sergeant-Major F. J. W. Stallard,~lat© Royal Horse Artillery and recently organising agent of the Nelson Recruiting Association, has gained a commission, and will leave with the 9th Reinforcement*.