COMPULSORY SERVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, 31 May 1916, Page 4

COMPULSORY SERVICE

SPEECH BY MR VEITOH. THE CASE FOR, SERVICE. Speaking iu the House of Representatives a few days ago Mr Veitch.. one of the Labour members o£ the House, made the following remarks concerning the question of conscription. I do think, however, that as .this is tho first opportunity I have had of discussing. it in Parliament I should indicate just, where I stand with regard to the proposed compulsory service Rill which the Government intends to bring forward. My opinion is not only that the voluntary system lias broken down, but that all along it, has been an inequitable system. 1 consider that the compulsory system should be applied at the earliest possible ! moment, and that it would have been better had wo been able to apply it a little sooner. The voluntary system was quite satisfy ctory when we were at that 'stage of the nation's history when only a small percentage of the people were required to ser.vo in tho ranks, ot the armv—when w e looked upon tho navv as almost the solo defence of the nation, and upon the army a subsidiary adjunct .for very* little more than home 'defence. To-day we have reached a stage when owing organisationoof.ourf f .our enemies we. -have found it neces'sarv to organise the whole availablo man force of tho* Dominion. ' Parliament should establish and put .into operation as early as possible an equij table* and carefully prepared system* of ! compulsory national service. There never I was a time in the history of our 'nation I when we more fully realised what we owe to the British Empire and to the grand » ! system of Government under -which we have lived all' these years—to the grand system of democratic government. that wo have been privileged to live under.'. We all .recognise, too, the danger we have been in—tho danger that we previously failed to realise. This, proves more clearly than ever that it is our "duty, if we value our national privileges, to "recognise our national obligations; and, that being so, Parliament must set itself tho task of establishing such a system as will compel every man' to do his duty. I can see nothing else in it. «The '" whole of tho organisation should be placed on a .better footing. Why should only those men go to the front "who hayo quick consciences and a strong appreciation o£their national 1 obligations and privileges, ■ - while others who do not recognise them' are permitted to stay at home? It has _■ been said that the -voluntary system™ ' has broken down. Perhaps it would be v better to say that the voluntary system, has proved inequitable. Up to the present time the voluntary system has ■ duced the number of men required, but--I think we are safe in saying that it will not continue to do so much longer. We must recognise, too, that hitherto we have had ai large proportion df married men going away, leaving their wives and,, families behind. It seems to me an in--, justice that men who have had their consciences quickened, and who have itj. - *., consequence realised their duty to £h»'; . Empire, should be the only men, 'to go,*, (to the front, whilst there are men who< I are permitted to stay behind because v \ they have not yet realise what their duty; ' : is. My contention is that Parliament/ -, should take hold of the question firmlyj' *" organise the whole of the - fighting •' strength of the, Dominion, and. let everyman, take his place in rotation. I want, to give my assurance to the Government that, so far as I ami concerned, any- - equitable system of compulsion will my hearty support j and I hope that the Government will. give us ' some 'strong . measure, not a feeble measure, that does not- go'far enough—not a measure ,that •- will exempt sections of the community unnecessarily, but a really strong.and comprehensive measure, such as a-Nat-ional Government is entitled to bring forward, and such as we shall be proud of after we have dealt with the position. Let us make up our minds that we aa ;i Parliament must, shoulder the.responsibility of dealing with this, problem, ". Wo have heard men arguing -that they would just be as well off in. Germany, as under British rule, and therefore that' * they do not want to go to the war or'to join- the British Army. s My replyXis) , Let these men go to Germany and give; their ideas a trial, and then we'shall,.' see and hear how they' get on. I Bay " x there is no >room for such men here.' o Every man who is not heart and soul.' - with us is against us in this great not. ional crisis; and the man who in ;iot ■ .. prepared to do his part in the .defence ; of the nation when its liberty is* in danger -"'' is not with that nation, and the sooner' he gets out the better. We dp not want ■■ him. Every man/ who has enjoyed „tho • 1 prrvileges of the/] British nation ? ' 'every- -\ t i man" who has enjoyecl- tlie freedom, and" ; protection of our laws,,has a clear duty • standing before him .to-day..- -After all '.'./. our first duty is to the men wjio have ~. already gone to the.front, to see to it',' that those men are .backed up by' rem/- ' forcements: and we/should be careful,to ' see to it that those reinforcements are collected on an equitable basis! .It is argued that the rich man has,more to' -■ lose than the poor man. That 1 as true'; but the poorest man in this country ,has" ; so much at stake.in < this crisis, that ii > is well -worth his while to' go forward • and defend the principles of liberty and justice. - In, generations-past our.'foro-. ' fathers have laid, down their lives, freely ■ and willingly in order that th,ey might ' ■ hand down to us the glorious privileges • that we possess to-day. Stayingj'at homo. ■ and grumbling will not protect these 1 rights and privileges for us. Tho nation is in danger, and the nation must be protected, and so. I, sincerely hope that tho Government will come- forward with a/ good workable measure, and a measure that will have the effect of thoroughly /organising tho capable men of the cduu-" \ try - ..-,,.,' I Interviewed by the<Post on Monday last in connection with the Bill Mr Veitch " |in the course of his remarks said I "My opinion. about tho Bill is this, T consider it has, become an absolute necessity, and thatv the- sooner it is 'brought ' into operation the better it will be for all parties concerned. Whatever may bo v ' the pressure.of public opinion in atiy.direction, the first duty of any member of;. , Parliament is to use his power, and in-' '■ fluence to ensure that the men' have . ' gone to the front will bo backed lipby the necessary reinforcements'. If we were discussing the question of voluntaryism . , - vi conscription in the abstract, in peace ■" time,' I would stand, for the voluntary* ■' system. The question we Inwe'to decide ' " isw hether. Germany is going to -win! the , war or not, and' "we must use every, \, ■ means in our power to ensure tho Allies winning the war. That is the major proposition, and I am not prepared |to - consider any side issues in connection - with it. ■ '.