THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 8, 10 July 1916, Page 2

THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY

TC IHB EDITOR.

Sir, —Quite recently I wrote in. these columus on tunnellers of national policy. 1 referred to those members of Parliament who oppose Dominion and Imperial safeguards; to shirkers ; and to those who excuse shirkers. My point was that anti-conscriptionists are (in effect) disloyalists, and should be generally condemned as-such. I did not expect those who come within this category to be pleased. They will be still further annoyed ere 'this year closes if they getwhat is due to them It is for the people of the Dominion, as against this comparative handful, to see that they do—even if still another league has to be formed for the purpose. Ido not see why _an • extension of the scope of the Patriotic Societies would not serve the purpose. They exist in some form or another in all parts of the Dominion, and could easily, co-operate successfully with a national executive of the societies. Their principal duty would be to see that members of Parliament, misrepresenting their constituencies got a prompt and powerful invitation to resign. The shibboleths of Democratic rule have been dear' to the persons indicated above when they suited their book. Yet now we have them resisting the majority. If the majority said that New Zealand must have a Red Federation Government and the minority tried to block this exercise of the people's will the section now talking anti-conscription would be specially indignant and venomous. But in the most serious matter ■that has ever confronted.the Dominion and the Empire they seek to. side- ■ track the people's will, and to override the opinions of those entrusted with the task of securing the safety of all. The manhood of this country favours conscription. Even, allowing for every • shirker, the National K-egister showed that an overwhelming majority of the manhood of the country favoured universal service. There is an equally large majority of members of Parliament in- favour of it. All the men at the front favour it, in order, as they put it, "to catch those skunks who are afraid of getting their hides ventilated, but are prepared to let others ran all the risks for their benefit." No one will accuse the anti-conscriptionists of' desiring to lose their share of the rewards of British success in this war.

The leaders of the Empire have said ( often enough in London, in the most1 solemn way, that "every fit man is needed." " .

The leaders of New Zealand have said the same.

Against all this we have five members of Parliament (who, on these facts, obviously do not represent the people), the small but anxious army of shirkers, and a few score of-peace cranks who do not seem to realise that if the Germans won there would never be any more peace, for "them-in this country.

Had the British everywhere taken the stand of the people now under notice— have done no more for voluntaryism than they; and, opposed the proposal that every man should do his duty by himself' and his country—-the German flag would ere this have been floating over New Zealand's public buildings, wages would have gone down to the German level (with a" compulsory preference for Germans), English-speaking persons would be getting the same consideration on the footpaths that the Boers gave the Kaffirs, and—every fit man would be compulsorily trained ■in the military forces, not for a short definite period, as now arranged, but permanently.

In view of "these things, how can shirkers be regarded', with anything but contempt and suspicion ; the one or the other for some, both for the remainder?

. The position is suchl —has been. such since 4th August, 1914—that those who are doing their duty .by their country are entitled 'to say, "He that is not for vis is against us" ; and to act in accordance with that declaration.—l am, etc., THOS. B, ROYDHOUSE.

Bth July.