Government And Conscription

Northern Advocate, 1 October 1938, Page 11

Government And Conscription

F Per Press Association. Copyright .] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The view that no man in New Zealand would be conscripted in the event of war until the people had been asked to decide on the issue was put forward by Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., Labour candidate for the Christ* church South seat, answering a question at Addington last night. He made it clear that he was voicing his own views. A questioner asked Mr Howard if he would define the attitude of the Government on the conscription issue, which, he said, was “still on the Statute Book.’’ Would the conscientious objection and the religious objection be respected? ■ “I am not dodging the issue when I reply that no member of the party except Mr Savage can really answer that 'for the Government, and I really doubt if he could,” said Mr Howard. , The questioner: Then that seems strange. Conscription Unlikely. “I, as an individual,- in commoi with other members of the Parlia* mentary Labour Party, cannot com mit all members to ! a statement or that issue,” Mr Howard said. “I thinl myself there would be no conscription. but can I say for the party tha\ there would be none?

“I can only say from my knowledge of the inside working of the movement that there would be none. The Labour Party will never climb down from the position it has taken up, and I can only say that from my knowledge of the movement. “I cannot say for the Government that there will be no conscription, but I can say there will be no conscription of .men without conscription of money. If old England is in serious trouble, we Will stand' by her.”

There were loud cries of “Hear, hear!” . r :