Vital Declaration.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 42, 22 December 1911, Page 9

Vital Declaration.

WHEREAS THE DEFENCE ACT, 1909, AND ITS AMENDMENT, 1910:

1. Introduces into this Dominion; th& principle of conscription (i.e., compulsory ena-olment for military service.); which has proved the curse of Europe;

2. Introduces military law and courts-martial in time of peace—courts so constituted as to be directly opposed l to the spirit and substance of common law and to the spirit and substance of the British Constitution., from which courts there is no appeal;

3. Violates freedom of conscience m basing the claim for exemption on dooV trinal and' not conscientious grounds;

4. Ignores parental authority and makes criminals of children and young men who have done no wrong. (For. the offence of non-registration the penr alty is life-long. It includes the loso of political rights and of all hope cf employment in any Government department, and , is expiated by neither ■■fine, nor imprisonment); ~ . . . 5. While professing to provide for the defence of this ■country,-., invite? members'of the Territorial '.'Forces*. (youths in some cases- only 18' yearns oi age) to volunteer, in time of peace, to; serve abroad at any time during a/ stated period and on acceptance, of their offer gives the Governor power to order them on foreign service—thus possibly forcing a man to participate in a war which his conscience condemns, as a result of a promise rashly, made in immature youth; ,

6. Will certainly increase the burden) of taxation until it becomes, as it is mi Europe, intolerable. (As a matter ofi fact, the Defence vote is already approximating the vote for Education);

7. Will have the effect of implanting! and cultivating the war spirit in the minds of our youth j

8 Is antagonistic to the growing peace spirit of the age, which is mal-. ing for the recognition, of the brother-* hood of mam

9 Will inevitably tend to a demand for'an increased term of military service and for residence in barracks or. camps, which must have—as has been universally proved—a demoralising effect upon the nation; _ " 10. Will cause serious interference! with' the youths' opportunities for tech- , nical and higher education; 11 Confers powers upon the militarji authorities which are absolutely structive of aJI democratic institution* and civic freedom; . „,,-.. 12. Necessitates the presence in Weilington of-a large number of Imperial and colonial military officers who will be in a position to bring influence tobear upon our legislators and cause . a continual demand for an increase ofar £lows aD S the permanent force to &S ZEALAND. . Hi URGED TO DEMAND ITS IM r , v MEDIATE REPEAL.