COMPULSORY SERVICE.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13773, 9 January 1917, Page 2

COMPULSORY SERVICE.

A STRAIGHT MINISTERIAL TALK, POSITION OP GUVKKXMKXT DEFjXKi). "NOT (IOIXd TO lil'.l)(vlv OXl'j JOT' t Tin: Hon. W. H. i\ .\iacl)onald, says I lie Jucklaud Star, bus made the position of tin 1 .Government pcrfecfiy c!i";:;•

in_ respect to I lie Miliiary Semco Ac!. At a public iiieeliiii; held ill (iisbonic on Thursday the Minister .said lie had no doubt tk Government had m;uiy shortcomings in connection with labour, but as far as possible that wJiich could be done had been ([one. There wns one thing that the Government had refused a section of the Labour Parly, and delinilely refused, ami Ihi was the repeal of the Military Service Act.

Mr Bickt'ord: A vote hits not been taken on (hat. ipiestion by organised ■abour throughout New Zealand. We did not ask for the repeal. . Tin: Minister: JJiil some sections did. .. .Mr W. D, Lvsnar: That is not a matter which'should go to the vote: it. is a matter for Cabinet to deal with. The Minister:' 1 feel personally that a, referendum uu Ihe military service question should never go to the people. Jlr Lysnar: Hear, hear. (Loud applause.) ' The .Minister: I feel personally that when we know of (he sacrifices that are'being made,-1 say (hat it is the most cruel question that could be put to the women (if the counlry to vole, on. The mnnliimd uf New Zealand should rise ami assert itself and carry Hie war lhnuu;!i. (Renewed applause.) What has been lone in connection with

this milder' We weir iold that if we did mil pass the Military Service Act we could gel all the recruits we wanted. There had been a great deal dime to ascertain the feelings of the people. When it became dilvimlf to get recruits organisations were r.et up right throughout Mew ilea lam!; every local body and patriotic- society' was asked (o organise, ami an absolute personal campaign was carried- mi from one end of New Zealand to tlic other. And although we had thousands who were willing to light fm*- the flag, we had thousands also who said tliev would do so. if

we brought in compulsory military service, Tlicy said: •'-'■ Wo will do our part ami a fair share, lint until then we will not volunteer.'' There was

nothing left for the Government; in order to carry on. lint to bring down tin; Military Service Act. I have looked through every Military Service Act Available, ami I have seen nothing better than ours. (Applause.) A man may either enlist voluntarily or he may go by ballot, lie has the right to go and volunteer, and that is not provided by any other country in the world." lyveryonc concerned' realises that Labour has done well in Xew Zealand. We are prepared, to meet Labour, and we are prepared to give tlicm full and due reward for their labour, -There is no. country in the world that, has such liberal labour legislation as Xew Zealand. We are prepared to give Labour its rights, and I want to assure you, as one of the National Ministry, Mint-as far as the Alililarv Service Act is concerned we are not. going to budge one jot. (Honewed applause.) .We realise our responsibilities, and Ihe sacrifices that men and women of this' country are making to-day., idee, what has been duiie in Belgium, where men, women, and childrcli have been cruelly I intinleral Is there any manliood in the land that- will, in the face of that, stand up and ask for the repeal of the Military Service Act 1 ?" The Germans have done such, deeds tliat they will have to be put in their place before I lie. war i.-' endejl. We are all anxious for peace, but 1 don't believe there- is any .right-, thinking" man in New- Zealand, in the Empire, who wants ajia.tched-up peace, a peace that would enable Germany Jo start and prepare for a greater, war.' We have made great' sacrifices, and we are prepared to see greater sacrifices made lor those who have done so much ■for King anil country. (Applause.)