THE CONSCRIPTION ACT

Grey River Argus, 21 December 1916, Page 2

THE CONSCRIPTION ACT

DISCUSSION BY COUNTY COUNCIL At yesterday's meeting of the Grey County Council. Mr. G. A. Perry, Mayor of Hokitika, forwarded a copy , or the resolution re the Military Service Act, which was as follows: — ' ' This meeting, recognising the necessity for the resources of the country being organised to bring the . war to an early and successful conclucion favours the utmost use of the manhood and wealth resources •of'-irke* ♦Dominion, and supports the enforce-^ ment of the Military Service Act or any additional means to obtain 'the ■ early attainment of the Allies' objective." Cr. Baybutt moved that the letter be received and that the Council support the resolution. — The Chairman, 'seconded the motion. Cr. Ryder moved an amendment, that the matter stand in abeyance until six months after the war, so that the question could be discussed. ( The Chairman moved the amendment out of order. j ' Cr. Ryder said that he was a conf scriptionist of wealth as well as of . j manhood, and he doubted if the best . use of the wealth of the Dominion had „ been attended to. Cr. Irving said that the conscription law was on the Statute Book, and we. would have to abide by it. r Cr. Ryder said that discussion of - the question was on one side, as the I law stopped any discussion. * ;' 3 Gr. Ryder moved another amendment, that the letter be received and ■ no action taken. This found na see- ' onder. r Cr. Donncllari: Has Mr. Perry any right to send that letter to this Council? , s The Chairman: He had. t Cy. Ryall said that the Government was enforcing the law, so what ' didL ■ anyone else want to do with it? [ Cjr. Ryder said that the ratepayers [ had not been consulted on the qucs- . tion, and there was a difference of opinion amongst the people. He ■ would not support th 0 resolution. He believed in the whole country being conscripted: Some people say the whole, country is disorganised. He would say that the financial shirker was much worse than the famiV shirker in his opinion. He favoured the letter being received, but no action v.i 6n * If tRe Gover nment was not able to carrry out the law it should! lot someone else do it. «. C J' D° nnell an was of the opinion that the matter should stand over. _ The Chairman said he would support the motion on the grounds that he was not asrainst the resolution. The motion was carried. .-"" '*