IN EVENT OF WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1938, Page 15

IN EVENT OF WAR

CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

MATTER FOR THE PEOPLE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 29

I The view that no man in New Zealand would be conscripted in the event of war until the people had been asked to decide on the issue was put forward by Mr. E. J. Howard, Labour candidate for Christchurch South, answering a question at Addington tonight. Mr. Howard made it clear that he was voicing his own views. The questioner asked Mr. Howard if he would define the attitude of the Government on the conscription issue, which, he said, was "still on the Statute Book." Would conscientious objection and religious objection be respected? "I am not dodging the issue when I reply that no one member of the party except Mr. Savage can answer that for the Government, and I really doubt if he could," said Mr. Howard. The questioner.: Then that seems strange. "I, as an individual, in common with the other 59 members of the Parliamentary Labour Party, cannot commit all members to a statement on that issue," Mr. Howard said. "I think myself there would be no conscription, but can I say for the party that there would be none? I can only say that from my knowledge of the inside working of the movement that there would be none. The Labour Party would never climb down from the position it has taken up, and I can only say that from my knowledge of the movement. God knows what this may end in, of course. I cannot say for the Government that there will be no conscription, but I can say there will be no conscription of men without conscription of money. If old England is in serious trouble, we will stand by her." (Loud cries of Hear! Hear!)