CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 43, 19 February 1918, Page 4

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

TO IHI ESITOB. Sir, —I am much amused at Mr. Holland championing the cause of the conscientious objector. During the watereiders' strike in 1913 he and those he represents used very strong language against the men who went back to work. The language was pretty lurid, I can assure you, but those men who went back to work were conscientious objectors to the strike pure and simple; yet, notwithstanding that, they were called scabs. I am as good a unionist as the next one, having been a member of the Watereiders' Union when D. M'Laren first started it. There are very few original members left on the waterfront now, but I would embrace a so-' called scab as a brother in preference to Mr. Holland's 60-called conscientious objectore. I wish I only were able to speak from a public platform and could challenge _ Mr. Holland to a debate on the conscientious objector question, but 1 lack education for that, unfortunately. Anyhow, if a.man who enjoys the freedom and liberties of a' country like New Zealand cannot do his bit, j well, in my mind, he is a thousand times ! worse than the men Mr. Holland abused during the 1913 strike, who were only :. conscientious objectors after all.—l am, etc., • ■ ■ i ROPE SLING.' 16th February.-