OPPOSING COMPULSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16408, 9 December 1916, Page 11

OPPOSING COMPULSION.

j FARCICAL MEETING HELD, j i I j ! i NO ENCOURAGEMENT OFFERED. BALLOT MEN UNSYMPATHETIC. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN" CORRESPONDENT] CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. Under the auspices of the Canterbury branch of what is termed the " Conscription Repeal League." a meeting was ad- i ! dressed in the Socialist Hall last evening i jby Mr. C. Y\ . Webber. The meeting was i | called for men who had been drawn in the ! first ballot and circulars that had been i sent to practically all the men so called | up inviting them to be present. | A mere handful of people who only | half-filled the very small hall was present, I most of them being reporters, policemen. i and detectives whom rumours of impendj ing trouble earlier in t'.ie day had enticed I along. Of the ballot men, on whom so | many circulars had been wasted, there ! was almost an entire absence. There may ! have been a dozen people present who conj curred with the views of the speaker. The | meeting was a remarkably tame one and | peace reigned throughout but outside the | building a small crowd, including a num- | ber of returned soldiers, amused itself bv j singing patriotic songs.