The Premier and the Red Feds.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 2856, 29 January 1916, Page 2

The Premier and the Red Feds.

Tbe Premier did better than well yesterday when, asked by the Post, to siiy something in reply to the Bed Ked anti-conscription manifesto, which was hatched in camera, he replied that "ho would probably have something to say on the subject at in early date." The value of the n piy is that Mr Massey did not dee n tin Bed Feds worthy of au immediate reply. As wo anticipated, the city papers are again boosting these recalcitrants, who are really traitors to freedom in seeking to block recruiting --and our papers are doing, more barm than good to the State iv thus taking a handful of unrepresentative shirkers seriously. The best reply ihe Premier could give the Bed Fed conference is an intimation that ciery delegate who attended it must slmw cause why they are not in camp. It is reported that nearly every dol.'.'ito is of inilitarv service age. Then ne.\ke them serve for their freedom! Since the above was written, we learn from Wellington that Mr Massey fell to the temptations of the morning papers, and gave to his opinion of the manifesto. Certainly he was oiitskopen, and he gives emphasis to own own complaint about publicity: "As newspapers from every part of' the Empire reach the, enemy, a great deal of harm is done by such productions, encouraging the German authorities to believe that the British people are disunited with regard to tlie war and longing for peace at any price, whereas the contrary is the case. If the manifesto is intended in any way to influence the New Zealand Government, it will not have tbe slightest effect. We are giving the voluntary system a good trial. Ii it fails (and it has. not failed yet), then to do our duty as a community there is only one alternative- compulsion, and the latter must be adopted when that time comes."