The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1918.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4817, 14 March 1918, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1918.

Tlie decision on the part of Mr. Webb, M.P. for Grey (now Private Webb of the N.Z.E.F.) to secure for himself more notoriety in connection with the demand that has been made upon him to, render war service on behalf of his country will do much to discredit him in sane Labor circles as well as amongst nearly all other sections of the people of this Dominion. Some sympathy, it is true, will be expressed for him by the Red Fed political and industrial element; by that not very numerous body of other people who agree with the Red Fed doctrine of antiSj conscription; and by the peace-mon--1 gers who have the misfortune to be | so restricted in their ideas that they cannot conceive how much depends on the result of the great struggle and who prate so loudly about how easy is would be to end the war by means of a round table gathering. Mr. —or rather Private—Webb is entitled to enjoy any satisfaction which he may derive from the knowledge that lie can reckon on the support of, comparatively speaking, but a handful of revolutionaries of the Bolsheviki type. The Webb case will, however, provide a lesson which the authorities of this Dominion would do well to take to heart. It will, wo believe, lead to an overhaul of the whole system of military exemptions and it is high time that something of the kind' was undertaken. Many people have long been asking where the equality of sacrifice that is dc-' manded comes in. In strict fact war service to-dav is not an obligation which is bound in all cases to follow proof of physical fitness. A-perfect specimen of manhood may escape military service on the solo ground! of being the last man left on a farm. Then, again, another reservist well equipped physically for war service may escape being sent to the Front for the reason that ho is engaged in one of .tlie “exempted” employments. '

The Conscript Labor Member.

This all leads up to the point that Private Webb claims that he is entitled to be exempted by virtue of his position as a member of Pailiament. It is somewhat unfortunate for the Government that one of the' Appeal Boards has just given a decision which will be eagerly fastened upon by the supporters of Private Webb in his demand to bo released from war duty. We refer, of course, to the successful appeal ol an Auckland business man on the giound that his services were essential in the conduct of a large trading oigan-

isation- of which he was the founder and is still the head. Private Webb cannot be complimented on his adoption of passive resistance simply because his appeal from war service was dismissed. Let it be assumed that he has been badly treated—which but few will admit—two wrongs never make a right. Noi can the attitude of certain of his supporters be approved. It may be recalled that when it became known that Private Webb would be required to go on active service Mr. Massey received a communication as follows Telegram from secretary, Miners’ Union, Blackball, to Prime Minister, February 0: “Blackball miners at stop work meeting yesterday demand exemption Webb. Insist on our con-

stitutional rights to choose our own representatives for Parliament. W i resent any interference by immediate industrial revolt. (Signed) Balderstone.” To this Mr. Massey replied: ‘•'l hope that wiser counsels will prevail than the course you suggest. Parliament decided by statute that so far as compulsory service is concerned there should he no discrimination between the Parliamentary representative and those he represents. In a crisis such as this members of Parliament should show a good example to private citizens. There are many members of Parliament from this and other jßriti.-h countries in the fighting line to-day, and they glory in what they are doing. while their constituents approve of and are proud of them." . - The question of exempting your representative has already been before the tribunal provided by law, and its decision must be observed by Mr. Webb just as by any other member of the community who has been drawn for military service.” Later, the secretary of the Roa Miners’ Union telegraphed to the Minister for Defence, stating that the union demanded a rehearing of Mr. Webb before the Appeal_Board,“failing which will act.” The Minister replied, that the matter was one entirely for the Board, and he was unable to interfere. Whether these threats will be carried out is not known, but it is certain that in the event of industrial trouble over the matter any section of workers that “downs tools” on such a wretched pretext need not expect any sympathy from tile general public.