THE CONSCRIPTION DISCUSSION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 28 October 1915, Page 4

THE CONSCRIPTION DISCUSSION.

During the course of his address at the Opera House on Tuesday evening Mr Hornsby adversely criticised the publication of a letter -which had appeared "in the columns of a New Zealand newspaper." It was quite obvious that he referred to a letter in the Star printed on Tuesday evening above Ehe signature "Old Volunteer." We must say that we think his remarks were rather unfair to us. The speaker at anyrate mighty have shown that he realised, as most people in the audience must have done, that the letter was but one in a series in which various views have been put forward in relation to the question .of conscription. When correspondence on a highly debateable subject takes place it is not an uncommon thing for writers to get rather heated, with the result that they say or seem to say more than they mean to convey. When the letter from "Old Volunteer" was passed for printing it was regarded merely as a protest against the principle of conscription, which had been advocated by another writer taking part in the controversy. And on again reading the letter we still think that that is the dominating idea of the writer. There is no doubt here and there an expression which goes a little far and had been better omitted, but the writer says no word against voluntary service or recruiting. Nor, be it observed, was voluntary service the subject of any part of the controversy between the writers. We shall, of course, greatly regret the publication of the letter if people generally construe the letter as Mr Hornsby 'did to be prejudicial to voluntary recruiting. With the general outlook of "Old Volunteer" the Star, it need hardly be said, has absolutely no sympathy. But different men different ideas. All cannot see matters from the same point of view l, and we do not necessarily shut our correspondence columns to people with whom we disagree. Before the war was thought of we were supporters of the principle of compulsory training, and since the war began all our writing, all our efforts, have been in the direction of helping the organisation of the power of the country to carry on the struggle. We entirely coincide with the speakers at Tuesday's meeting that the war is not of Britain's making, that it has been forced upon her in defiance of treaty responsibility, which could not have been avoided honorably, and in defence of national and personal liberty and of all the rights and privileges which our forefathers have won for us. , The heritage which has come down is worth fighting for by men from every part of the Empire; and we in New Zealand must do our share in the work of defence. Whatever sacrifice is demanded "must be made, and if the battle cannot be won by means of the voluntary services of the men who have gone and of those who are going, then whatever further demand may be made by the State must be cheerfully responded to. The fighting is going on far distant from our shores; let us be thankful for the fact. But where the fight is there must our men be. There is little prospect, as long as the British Navy controls the sea, of the enemy coming here. If he ever should do so he will find that there are plenty of men left to defend our. shores. In the meantime we must do our best to strengthen our Imperial forces. Wherever the work is now to I be clone there must we do our share.