MR MASSEY SCORES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17199, 20 June 1916, Page 6

MR MASSEY SCORES.

The Prime Minister continues to deal patiently and courteously with communications that reach him protesting against the principle of the Military Service Bill, oven when some of his correspondents assume a threatening attitude. It is impossible not to admire tho way in which Mr Massey argues with his controversialists in circumstances which would encourage most men to a little warmth, but in giving tho soft answer that turneth away wrath he ha 3 certainly justified tho Bill and impressed upon his correspondents the unshakable firmness of the. Government. The authorities are not to bo frightened with threats of strikes, a 3 some flaxmillers in tho Manawatu district may imagine, nor can they bo moved by such " arguments" as have been presented by the unfortunate phrase-maker who is secretary of the Federation of Labour—tho gentleman who had something to say a, few months ago about "dignified neutrality." Mr Massey, in the correspondence wo print this morning, scores heavily in each of his replies to protests and alarms, and he scores most heavily off Mr Hiram Hunter's references to the success of tho voluntary system. . Who have been responsible for that great success, which haa produced' a gallant army of some sixty thousand volunteers P We shall not go back upon our criticism of the Government during this war. We have said, and say again, that iu many important respects tho policy of the Government has been unimaginative and inadequate. Wo repeat I that volunteering should have met with greater officia.l encouragement in many ways, that war profits should have boon taxed and tho rich mado to pay, since the burden of service necessarily fa.lls mainly upon tho workers, thoy being the majority. But tho Government and its unofficial patriotic allies hhve "produced tho goods" nevertheless, and wo join with Mr Massey in asking what assistance has como from those who most loudly condemn compulsion and prato of the virtues of voluntaryism. It has to bo said with extreme regret, but wo are amazed at the apparent indifference which a few Labourites have manifested in regard to the German peril; and while the splendid response .that has been mado by working men to the coll of duty has to bo acknowledged with pride wid pleasure, the trade? unions appear to have missed a unique opportunity through failing to use their organisation in the cause of voluntary enlistment. We direct attention to Hie views of a correspondent- reproduced in another'column from the ''Dominion.*' Tho writer is a Socialist with MilTicieiit sense to realise what a horror tho Allies arc endeavouring to avert. Ho realises that tho duties to the individual involves fei"&dividual's duty to tho State. He»y» S'Vhat every

recruiting office. Ho is indisputably right, and something like that would have taken placo long ago if tho passion for voluntaryism go extensively advertised were genuine Those who have had tho opportunity and havo not helped in tho campaign for volunteers, to the utmost extent of their abilities, have no right or title to be heard at this stage clamouring against compulsion. This consideration alone makes Mr Massey's reply to Mr Hunter unanswerable.