MILITARY SERVICE BILL

Nelson Evening Mail, 29 May 1916, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE BILL

ATTITUDE OF STATE MINERS. REPLY BY THE PREMIER. (Uhxxbd Pbsss Association.) WELLINGTON, May 27. The Point Elizabeth and State Collieries Employees Union has forwarded to the Premier ai resolution affirming then* determination Jo oppose to the utmost any attempt to enforce conscription on the workers, being of opinion that conscription is unnecessary and that __ it would establish, .military rule in place of the present democratic rights. It accused the Government with gross breach of faith with 60,000-men, who enlisted by enforcing conscription and underhandedly smuggling coloured labour into New Zealand to replace soldiers. Further, it (pledged members to make _ common cause with organised workers in Australia to combat conscription. Mr Massey replied expressing astonishment that a presumably intelligent bodyof men could make such extraordinary statements. He otmld not conceive of any grosser breach of faith than leaving men unsupported on- the field of ■battle. .The ..statement concerning -smuggling coloured'"labour was absolutely devoid of foundation, and he could only conclude that it was made with the deliberate intention of prejudicing the Government and obscuring the real issue the country has to face. In conclusion, he expressed -regret that the Union, should have passed,such an ill-consider-ed, misleading and unwarrantable resolution. In the hour of national peril the man who declines to Tecognise and discharge his obligations to the State con-, closively demonstrates his -unfitness for citizenship. *

ANTI-CONSCRIPTION LEAGUE "FORMED.

WELLINGTON, This Day.

A ' meeting of Trade Unionists, - at •which, four La'bour members of Parliament attended,-discussed the Military Service Bill and passed a resolution condemning it as absolutely unnecessary and futile, and calling on the workers of the country to-oppose it in every way and at every stage. I At another meeting an Anti-Conscrip-tion League was _ formed. •',