CONSCRIPTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17061, 10 January 1916, Page 8

CONSCRIPTION.

AVONSIDE PARISHIONERS SUPPORT MOVEMENT. GRADUATED TAX URGED. A meeting was held in the Avonside Church schoolroom last night to discuss the question of conscription. 1 *>e Rev O. Fitzgerald presided over a good attendance. The chairman explained- that the meeting was purely a parochial one, and any outsiders would be ruled out of order iu speaking. He had called tho meeting to see if it would express favour of what he considered was a universal thought and desire-conscrip-tion,' and with conscription a. graduated tax. The men were not coming forward as they should do and the war funds were being held up over and over again by the liberal-minded people. The graduated tax would be a fair means of levying for money. The money was in New Zealand and it ought to'be secured somehow. Conscription would solve tho difficulty ot men, and tho graduated tax would solve the financial problem. If the meeting were in favour ot these, two things he asked that somebody should move a resolution to that effect After a pause Mr Warner said that he would bo sorry to see the meeting lapse without some sort of motion. He would move: — '■That this meeting considers that the time is now ripe for conscription of men and the levying of money by special taxation." The. mover said that the voluntary system of giving was unsatisfactory. The same people paid over and over again. There we;'e large sums of money being made in the. country through the war but not much of it wa.s going to the war funds. The proposal was seconded by Mr C. Hoddinott, Mr H. J. Otley said that he agreed entirely with the first part of the resolution. As far as taxation went it was • verv easv to say tax the other fellow. " He would favour taxing everybody. The present system of income tax was in every way a fair one. Tho more money a man earned the more he paid. As for compulsion he was a, eonscriptionist out and out. It was tb>, fair way Moreover he would see .that all those who hid behind a war-time marriage should be treated as single men. Taxation was a difficult problem and he would not be prepared to support the resolution as it stood. It was not fair for eligibles to hang back and let the volunteers die for them.

Mr J. Foster said he was thoroughly in favour of conscription. He would have no age limit. Let all able to hold a rifle, do so. Ho had five sons; four were at the front and ono in Trentham. Take a look round tho streets, and what did one see? Hulking young fellows loafing about who ought to be in uniform and be made men.

Another speaker said he did not support conscription. He quoted the nwnbe ■* of willing men on the National Register. The difficulty they were up against was insufficient provision for relatives and dependents while the men were away fighting. He .thought that sufficient provision and encouragement would keep the voluntary system and win the war. Mr P. Trolove said he did not {•s.-iee with uon-conscriptionist views. He did not think that Germany would have got ■ her military power without conscription. He preferred the words iational service to conscription.

Mr Todhuntor said that conscription of men and wealth should go hand-in-haud. Adequate provision should be made for dependents. An elderly gentleman spoke m support of tho resolution. Ho commenced to speak against gambling aud the totalisator when ho was interrupted by Mr Otley rising to a point of order. Another speaker said that he would like to endorse tho opinions against conscription. He considered it a meraee to the British Empire. Conscription ultimately meant military despotism . The motion was declared carried on the voices.

MEETING OF CHRISTCHURCH CITIZENS TO BE HELD.

The Mayor has decided to call a meeting of citizens to consider the question of compulsory military service during the war. The date of the meeting has not been fixed, hut it will be some time this week. Mr Holland will invite the citizens to discuss all phases of the question. He is preparing a list of speakers.