ANTI-MILITARISTS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 11 March 1912, Page 7

ANTI-MILITARISTS.

MEETINGS IX THE SOUTH. FAILURE OF DEMONSTRATIONS. (United Pjiess Association.{ CHRISTCHURCH. March 10. An anti-militarist demonstration took place in Victoria Square this afternoon, the attendance being well within 500. Speeches denunciatory of the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act were made, and motions were carried protesting against the imprisonment- of youths who refused to pay tilth- fines, and also protesting against misrepresentation by the press of the dominion and by the military authorities, of the defence scheme. A youth, who described himself as the secretary of the Passive Resisters' Union, said that he had been to the Lytteltoi; gaol and had seen the boys, who were quite well. He added : "Woe betide "Ward or Mas.sey, I say (with clenched fists) if they continue to inflict; this ujpon us. If they put me in gaol for tile rest of my life I would not have anything to do with conscription. They cali us cowards —I'm ready to fight, anyone; I'm ready for any of the officers at the drill shed, but the fight is mental, not physical. '' An anti-militarist demonstration was held at Lyttelton, in the vicinity of the gao], this afternoon, but it proved more or lese a fiasco. About three 01* four hundred ptople surrounded the orators, and motions on similar lines to those passed at the demonstrations in Christchurrh yesterday wero passed. There was no increase of the police force at the Port, and those on duty did not interfere with the demonstrators. Large numbers who went from town by a later train in anticipation of trouble, ■were much disappointed oil reaching Lyttelton to find matters peaceable and quiet.