NEW ZEALAND DUTY.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13939, 24 July 1917, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND DUTY.

DEFENCE LEAGUE RESOLUTION. L HONOURING THE .MEMORY OP CAPTAIN S. A. ATKINSON, At a meeting hold at Wellington on Saturday morning of members of the Defence League, organised by the late Captain S. A. Atkinson for the promotion of compulsory military training, and others associated with him in various patriotic movements, the f|iiestion of doing honour to his memory was eon-r-iilered) It was agreed (says the Post) that in view of -the danger threatened by the backsliding of certain politicians, one suitable way of honouring Captain Atkinson's memory ami of helping to cany out the spirit of his last messeage would be to revive the organisation for the express purpose of strengthening the hands of (he Government against the proposal that New Zealand dionld violate her pledges, by gradually withdrawing from the lighting line and confining her patriotism to making war profits. The following motion was carried unanimously: "That this meeting deplores the suggestions recently made in Parliament in favour of reducing the reinforcements which the Dominion stands pledged to the Empire to provide; resents such proposals as grossly insulting to the patriotism and the honour of the country, seeing that to carry them out would involve a breach of faith with the men we have sent to the

front, and to our friends in the Old Country, who are bearing'the brunt of the light; thanks Sir James Allen and •Sir Francis Bell fijr their emphatic repudiation of these dishonouring suggestions; and assures the' Government that the people of New Zealand arc really in no mood to prostitute their honour by leaving the defence of their liberties to others."

It was arranged that Mr A. R. Atkinson should act as lion, secretary pro tcm.