MR ATMORE'S MEETING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16568, 4 June 1914, Page 8

MR ATMORE'S MEETING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Mr M'Alister wants to know who I spoke for in moving the no-conr fidence motion at Mr.Atmoro's meeting recently. I sell my labour power to the general labourers for eight hours per day, and I presume I am just.as free to exercise my rights as a citizen outside of those eight hours as I would bo if I was working for any other employer of labour. I cannot discuss the general labourers' business with, my friend, because he is not. a member.of that Union, but I can remind him that if he looks back over the files of the daily Press he will find that when that Union has spoken, it has spoken in no uncertain voice on this matter, and against the present Act. If I spoke for anyone or in anyone's name it was in the name of the ten thousand boys that have been, prose-, cuted under this Act.. At the present moment I have alongside of me eight summonses issued against one.-. boy recently. If I spoke in,, .the name of anyone it was in the name of the fifteen thousand men and boys who did not attend the camps recently. I have as much love and veneration for the memory .of the "Noble Six Hundred" as my. friend has. lam not an anti-militarist, that is to say, I don't believe we can do without some system of defence any more than we can do without policemen . under the present system. But Ido say, " Hands off the children." If/we were in any danger of invasion during the past four years, it was cowardly, on our part to ask the children to defend us. If we anticipate any trouble daring the coming four years, then it is equally cowardly on our part to ask the children to' defend us. If my friend thinks the country is in danger aud he can get a majority of the voters to think with him, I will do my share towards training to defend the'country. - ... . : ' I am a grandfather, and will protect all that we have won, with the next man, but again I say, " Hands off the children." Give them a chance to grow up with ail their ideas and ideals unspoilt with the knowledge that men must kill each other at the order of a few people who never fight. If there is not enough able-bodied men in the country to defend the country then it is time some other nation took it over. I have no confidence in the Liberals or Tories because of this Act, and I would be a coward if I did not say so, or if I voted for a party that does believe in it because that party offers m<» easier times.—l am. etc., E. J. HOWARD.