£226 RAISED FOR “NO” CAMPAIGN AT WELLINGTON

Grey River Argus, 19 July 1949, Page 3

£226 RAISED FOR “NO” CAMPAIGN AT WELLINGTON

1500 Attend Town Hall Meeting (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 18. An attentive reception was given Anti-Conscription speakers in Wellington Town Hail tonight by about 1,500 persons. There were a few ot the regular interjectors. The meeting carried, by an easy majority, a resolution in opposition to conscription. The speakers were. Mr F. Langstone, M.P. for Roskill, and Mr. H. Winston Rhodes, who is the Associate Professor at the Canterbury University College. Police who were in the hall had a leisurely evening, but occasionally, they cautioned tne people who were attempting to persist with their interjections from the back of the hall. Half a dozen voices, at one stage, began to count out Mr Langstone, but they soon quietened down when they were approached by the police. An appeal for funds to fight conscription, by way of advertisements, was made by Professor Rhodes. He asked, first, for £5 notes, and he got twenty-one contributions in £5 notes, and in promisary notes. Mr P. C. P. McGavin was the Chairman. He announced that the total collection was £226. Apart from opposing the principle of conscription, the speakers criticised the proposal to train the 18-year-olds. They referred to the need for air and sea power. ODDS ON “NO" ? NEW PLYMOUTH, July 18. “Bookies at Wellington are giving points in against compulsory military training being carried,” Dr G. H. Thomson told a meeting of the New Ply., ruth Returned Services’ Association. when speakers said there was public apathy. The chairman, Mr W T. Vaughan: “It is our job to see that everyone goes to the poll, and we’ll see that they do.” Mr G. F, Bertrand: “And we’ll take a fiver’s worth with the bookies while we can get it.” “If I had my way,” said the Mayor of New Plymouth, “I’d do what they do in Australia. I’d fine all who don’t go to the poll a pound or a fiver.” Nelson Mob’s Violence Illegal (P.AJ WELLINGTON, July 18. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, said today that he regretted that violence had been used at a meeting organised by. the opponents of compulsory military training in Nelson. Mr Fraser said that violence of any kind could not be permitted by those who had to enforce the law and police protection would be affoideci at all meetings to ensure law and order. “Those who support compulsory military training as a necessary stop to maintaining democracy and freedom, which emphatically includes freedom of speech, will recognise their responsibility of upholding law and order and maintaining the rights (of others, who take a different point of view,” he said. Unmolested expression of opinion within the law is essential to a proper determination of the question of compulsory military training, as of all otner questions,” said Mr Fraser. Recruits to Have Jobs Protected (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Juiy 18. Provision will be made to protect ithe employment of recruits during their aosence for periods of training, and financial provision will be made to cover any accidents to recruits during their periods oi training. This was stated by the Prime Min- , ister, Mr Fraser, today when he referred to vaiious aspects of the training scheme to be implemented if a "yes” vote is given in the referendum.

Mr Fraser said the scheme’s objective was that New Zealand should have a trained force in four years’ time. No men under 21 years would be called on for overseas service. If war came or appeared imminent befoie the scheme had produced a torce oi men 21 years or age or over, then men. in the adult age groups would have to be called up immediately for training and service. The principle of compulsion foi overseas service in the event of wai was accepted by the majority of the critics of the present proposal, ha said. The proposed scheme meant that men would be trained when they reached the age at which they might be required for full service. It avoided their reaching the age of 21 untrained. In so doing it not only provided defence for the country and the Commonwealth, but was the best protection for the men themselves. Mr Fraser said it had been asked: ‘ Why not call up the 18 to 21 year olds' now.” After Considering all the facts it had been decided that the basic scheme did not require that nor would it be practicable to do so. If it wore done, the interference with careers would be more severe and a greater strain would be placed on the normal work of the community. Under the proposed scheme for 18-year-olds, training would be in two periods each year—summer and winter —to minimise interference witli the men’s work and education. Mr Fraser reiterated that wet canteens would not be permitted in camps for those under 21.