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.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MW19111222.2.26
Bibliographic details
Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 42, 22 December 1911, Page 9
Word Count
423Vital Declaration. Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 42, 22 December 1911, Page 9
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