IN THE WAIKATO.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 41, 15 December 1911, Page 13

IN THE WAIKATO.

Boys Refuse Conscript Duty.

f 'Conie hither, lads, and hearken, A tale there is to tell." "Wednesday, November 29, 1911, was the day and date that the war-lords iaet their Waterloo in the mining toAvnfiihip of Huntly. The boys who have been earmarked %j the War Office were expected to obey the summons of the belted knight to attend at the Masonic Hall. Early in the evening there appeared a few rebels in the streets, who were soon following President Beck, who carried a miniature soap-box. He led to the school corner, mounted the box <&nd called upon J. Fulton to speak. Fulton got his pipe removed, and ere the smoke cleared away, he- had a magnificent and most appreciative audience. E. Hunter, J. E. Duncan, W. Thompson, and H. J. Beck had something to say which proved of more interest to the boys than their tinsel, gilded buttons or war accoutrements. Hxmtly has been of late with excellent meetings, but, faith, this is one to print in red ink when the fcistory of the working-class comes to "be written in imperishable tomes. The men, women and children rolled around ttfie People's Flag, and carried a resolution unanimously which stated emphatically that no boy goes from Huntly to drill for war. Only eight boys appeared before the "authorities" out of forty, and five of those were Government employees, which fact practically dictates that fohey should be there, ■ ■'• ■ The meeting set out foi\ the Masonic Hall, and shots were exchanged, figuratively. The boys shouted: '.fWe will soot be trained to be murderers! m ■ ranison. Comrade Beck ranged himself wpon the doorsteps of the hall,; and addressed the young rebels to good purpose. The miniature soap-box! The foundation, comrades, of the coming brotherhood. Thus the boys gave their first exhibition of class solidarity and classtxxnsciousness, clarion evidence of the »ow, the true spirit that means final for humanity. To Warn and ©o the miners say: "You* , defence

scheme to the bottomless pit 1" : On Sunday, December 3, H. J. Beck and E. Hunter addressed another welljittenxled meeting of the Socialist party at the log. TJie former dealt with 'The Increased Cost of Living," and the latter spoke upon ''Women under Socialism." The feature of the meeting was the substantial increase of women-folk attendees. Thus do our times move.—BILLY BANJO.