FUTILE AGITATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17192, 12 June 1916, Page 6

FUTILE AGITATION.

If the Government is wise it will not allow itsolf to be bothered by anticonscriptionists. The deputation of women which waited upon the Prime Minister on Saturday may have been porfectly sincere, but Mr Massey might have been pardoned had he shown a little less patience. The Military Service Bill occupied the attention of the House of Representatives during almost the whole .of last week. It has been thoroughly debated by the people's representatives, who have, moreover, been afforded the fullest opportunities of amending the measure. Its easy passage through the Legislative Council is assured, and for practical purposes the Bill is as good as law. For a number of women to wait upon Mr Massoy setting out their opposition to compulsion after the third reading had been carried by an overwhelming majority was wasting Mr Massey's time, to say the least. We all know that tho Military Service Bill is to go on to the Statute Book immediately, and in view of all tho circumstances the Government might usefully consider the suppression of " anti-conscription leagues." Full authority to do so is provided in tho War Regulations Act. The Wellington ".league" is inducing men to sign a declaration which amounts to nothing less than an undertaking to defy the authorities and resist the law, and wo say without hesitation that neither tho Government nor the community can afford to regard that sort of thing with leniency. Mr Massey might very well make an announcement that opposition or the threat of opposition to the compulsion law will not be tolerated, and after that announcement offenders ought to be effectively dealt with. Much of the nonsense that is heard from opponents may perhaps be ignored as so much "hot air," but there is no reason why the Government should permit defiance. When people protest against national service on tho ground that it is "taking away British liberty" they aro abusing a noble and sacred word and are inviting the public to doubt their intelligence or their bona fides. The only way in which British liberty can be protected is by winning the war. for which the united effort of the community is demanded. The surest way to lose our liberty is to let the Germans win. Any man or woman who attempts to thwart the Government's work in sending men to the war, according to the means almost unanimously agreed to by Parliament, is an enemy of liberty and ought to be treated as such. There is, however, a wide and legitimate field of endeavour open to all who wish to see the New Zealand forces retain their voluntary character, and that is to work hard and unceasingly for tho encouragement of voluntary enlistment. It has been made plain enough by tho Prime Minister, by the Defence Minister and by other members of tho Government that compulsion will only operate in the event of voluntaryism failing, and in such an event no other course but that authorised by Parliament could be possible in any dominion that is loyal to the Empire, that has an appreciation of honour, a regard for tho benefits of civilisation, or even tho commonsense that self-preservation should prompt. Tho Military Service Bill does not take away, but seeks to preserve, British liberty. Nor does it interfere with voluntaryism. Indeed, there are grounds for thinking that it has already stimulated recruiting and has probably done a great deal moro to produce volunteers than have the combined efforts of its moro rabid opponents. Wo repeat that tTiose who dislike compulsion may assist to make it unnecessary. In that way they can help the Government. By adopting an attitude of hostility towards the authorities, however, they may become a public nuisiince. If they do that the Government ought to act promptly and decisively. While on this subject we may briefly notice a foolish statement by Miss Pankhurst, who told a Christchurch audience that " tho Military Service Bill is not intended to be used for the present war, but for subsequent wars." The lady has either not read the Bill or has failed to understand it, ' for it expressly states that the pro-

visions are for the present war with Germany. Moreover, the Bill is to be "read together and deemed part of the Expeditionary Force Act," which stipulates that tho forces aro raised for service in the present war and for six months after. As for the future policy, Miss Pankhurst may very safely leave that to be decided by the people of New Zealand.