DISCIPLE OF MARX

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1917, Page 6

DISCIPLE OF MARX

WOULD RATHER DIE Til AX GO TO CAM I’.

A CL A SS-COX SCTOUS SLAVE

AUCKLAND, This Dav

“I absolutely refuse to accept tlie order to parade, and would lather die than go to cam])-’’ These words came as a climax to a case heard hy the Military Hoard, and were spoken yesterday hy Hugh R. Gray, a farmer on the Great Harrier, who based an appeal on the ground of undue hardship- Appellant, who, both hy written document and speech, proclaimed himself a Marxian disciple, described himself as “a. classl-conscious slave at present, working- on a farm-” His work consisted of “any old job at all; it all depends on the pay, hut under (he system of Socialism based on Marxian principles he would have to do less.”

Interrupting- a flood of rhetoric, freely interspersed with quotations from appellant's favourite author,' the Chairman asked; ‘‘What are your real grounds of appeal? You talk so much it is verv difficult to follow you.”

Appellant replied that he was assisting- his brother in the working- of a farm of close on 2000 acres. Ris brother, had been classed as unfit, and could not manage alone- A further emphatic statement of his convictions contained the followingelaboration of his personal objections to military service: “Being one of the class-conscious proletariat, with nothing- to sell hut my labour and power, and knowing- from study of the materialistic conception of history the law of surplus value, and having no interests in the conquering of the world markets, I will not he involved in a war which is beingwaged hy capitalists -of different nations-” Turning- to the subject of religion, appellant went on to state that, in his‘opinion, “there was no God save that perpetuated by capitalism for the purpose of keeping people drugged-” The Chairman (Mi Burgess, S.M-): “Come, now, I warn you. Have you any other legitimate grounds of appeal? Are your parents living?” Appellant: “ Yes- ” “Are you supporting them?”— “Xo. They are assisting me.” The •Chairman: “Well, what are your real grounds of appeal? —“The best grounds in the world,” came the candid, reply—, “looking after my own skin. Selfpreservation is the first law of Nature, you know-” Mr Burgess: “The Board will not think so-” “We will see about that,” replied appellant, who, reverting to his Socialistic theme, asked the Chairman: “Have you ever dope any hard

work in your life?” “Of course 1 have, said Mr Burgess. Mr Pine (member of the Board): “Do you know you arc addressing- a Magistrate.”' Appellant ; “A man is a man the world over, Magistrate or not."

Having been warned to reply to questions instead of asking them, witness gave a few more details regarding bis farm life. Good work bad been done on the property, he said, and be expected to do very well with itMr Elliott (a member of the Board): “1 think you bad better do away with it, or you may find yourself becoming a capitalist- “ Many a capitalist is a Sociallist, hut he daren t admit it, parried the appellantMr Bine: “More (lie other way about-” After listening to a further discussion on religion and other points already covered, the Hoard dismissed the appeal, and instructed Grav to proceed to camp with the October draft. Appellant, who maintained an. attitude of extreme defiance throughout, declared his fixed intention of doing nothing of the kind.