Good for Waihi!

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 72, 26 July 1912, Page 14

Good for Waihi!

"WELCOME HOME" TO ANTI-

MILITARISTS.

Tho finest welcome ever extended to any person or persons in Waihi was accorded by tho workers and citizens of Wailii to four brave sons of the work-ing-class who had served seven days' imprisonment in the Thames jail for refusing to serve in Godley's conscript army. As the G-40 p.m. train steamed into tho station and the. boys—Carl Bogers,, KcUvard Dvvyer, Jack Brooks, and H. Marks —jumped down from tho carriage, loud, ringing cheers for liberty rang on the frosty air. Tho boys were placed in tho procession between two large banners of crimson red —one "Tho Waihi Socialist Party" and tho other wiiili the appropriate lettering, "No Drill"— and headed by a combined band, marched to the Seddon Memorial Statue in tho main street. Owing to tho darkness, it was impossible to count tho procession, but many hundreds walked wiuh the boys, while a very largo number followed on tho footpaths. Inspiring music was rendered by the band en route, and the following songs given: "Tho Red Flag," "Onward, Kriends of Freedom," and a rollicking swinging chorus: — "Hurrah.!, Hurrah 1 No conscript oath for mc. Hurrah 1 Hurrah! We'll stand up with tho froo. We'll pay no fine, we'll bido our time, to j-a.il we'll go with glee, And bear tho brunt in tho glorious fight for Freedom." Groans were repeatedly given for tho Conscription Act, General Godley, and other admirers of tho murder scheme. Arriving at tho monument, a song, specially composed for tho occasion, was effectively rendered by Air. Ford, tho audience joining in the chorus. Cheers, wero again given for the boys. Air. Wesley Richards made an excellent chairman, and stated tho object of tho mooting. Ho also announced that two ministers of tho Gospel, tho Rov3. Brown-Guymcr (Primitive Methodist) and Fee- : (Wesleyan) would speak. The speakers all dealt with tho subject in an excellent manner, the largo audience frequently applauding. Tho Anti-militarist League were represented by Mr. Herb. Kennedy and Mr. W. E. Parry; the Australian Socialist Party by Comrade Harry Holland, the I.W.W. by Air. J. B. King, and tho. Waihi Socialist Party byMr. Chas. Smith. Tho clergymen present delivered, addresses of a nature that ought to make other followers of tho Prince of Poaoo "go and do likewise."

That the meeting was a pretty revolutionary one may bo gauged from tho fact- that the two following resolutions were almost unanimously carried, amidst loud cheering:—

"That this meeting of workers and cititzens heartily welcomes homo the boys of Waihi who havo suffered imprisonment for refusing servico under the Conscription Act, congratulates them on their courageous action in going to jail for sake of principle, and counsels all working-class boys to follow uheir example and refuse to become the military instruments of the capitalist class."

"That this meeting, while placing on record its indignation that honest sons of the working-class should bo made to suffer jail for refusing to loam to kill their follow-mon, declares itself uncompromisingly hostilo to all forms of militarism, recognising that while the present class state exists tho armed forces will bo used to buttress up capitalism and hold the workers down, and proclaims that all tho energies of tho working-class can bo most profitably used to build up its international organisations, which are even now tho chief guarantees of the peace of tho world."

Threo moro lads are to be taken away to servo in "durance vile." The reason why they were not taken with tho others was that there was not enough accommodation at "his Majesty's boarding-house." What a muster in jail there would have been if all the boys who refused had been jailed!

It is a noteworthy fact tihat tho boys received their heartiest welcome from the lads who have been in, tho habit of drilling.

Everything points to the habit being broken'before long.—THE REBEL.