MEDAL FOR COUNTSH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 1

MEDAL FOR COUNTSH

YOUTH OUT OF GAOL ■PROTEST AGAINST THE DEFENCE ACT. There was a largo attendance (including many women) at the Socialist Hall last evening, when William Cornish, the youth who served twonty«no days’ in prison rather than pay a fine for failing to register under tho Defence Act. was presented with a gold medal, the gift of the Runanga AntiConscription League. Mr J. Roberts, president of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (.by whom the meeting was called) occupied the chair. Ue. staled that this was tho fortnightly mooting of tho Wellington branch of tho Federation of Labour, and advantage was being taken to present the hoy Cornish with tho medal donated by the Runanga Anti-Conscription League. Uo introduced to them the youth Cornish. Cheers were given for Cornish. One venturesome youth (tho only ono in the crowded hall that seemed opposed to the general sentiment) ventured to hoot, but was promptly ejected. Mr Roberts expressed regret that tho boy bad not stayed; they might have driven some of tho jingoistic nonsense out of his head. But he would adviso thoso people who went to disturb meetings that it would bo better to stay away. Cornish had been ono of the first in Now Zealand to show his pluck and spirit and to act up to his convictions. It seemed to him that a great number of tho. boys envied Cornish for his act. Most of them would agree that to gaol any boy of Cornish’s ago was criminal—(hear, hoar) —and the powers that started to gaol boys could not hope to last long to govern people* Tho W ellington branch of the New Zealand Federation of Labour entered an emphatic protest against tho Government gaoling a boy who had not committed a crime, and who had acted up to his conscience. ILi called for three cheers for Cornish. These .wore given, with enthusiasm. WORK OF THE LEAGUE. Mr Freeman, secretary of the Wellington Anti-Conscription League, made a statement giving the progress made by tho league and its work for, the future. A petition was in circulation, and names were being collected from one end of New Zealand to the other. Among the committees of the league was a legal committee, the purpose of which was to obtain legal advice , for persons brought before the court for non-compliance with tho Act. If a hoy going to gaol Was earning- a wage that went a long way to supporting his family tho league would endeavour to replace the monetary loss caused by his imprisonment. When the collection of signatures for the notation was concluded they hoped to hold tho greatest conference that had ever been hold in Wellington. Air R. Semple, organiser for the Federation of Labour, congratulated Cornish on defying an immoral laiV. Tho Government could not make a man a. criminal unless the people said ho was a criminal. Tho only Way to defeat this immoral law was to defy it. He was pleased that that spirit was in Cornish. If the people of New Zealand were going to stand this sort of thing, then the sooner they grew legs in their chests and learned to crawl the better. They were going to send along the biggest deputation that had ever entered Parliament. They would not nsk for what they wanted; they would demand it. He advised tho boys to break this immoral law. If candidates at the election would support this measure then tho electors must strike tho pencil through their names. He then presented Cornish with the medal, which bears the following inscription: —“ Presented to W. Cornish, jnnr., by the Runanga Anti-Conscription League- 26/7/’ll.” THE INSTITUTION ON THE TERRACE. In acknowledging tho gift Cornish stated that ho wished to give, the lie to tho capitalist press of New Zealand which had stated that ho had acted under his father’s instructions. He had asked for his father’s advice, and had been told to please himself. “ I pleased myself,” he continued, “ and (the punishment I got was brought on by myself.” Ho gave a brief description of the “institution-on tho Terrace.” If they wanted him to go to gaol they could come and take him, but he would never join the soldiers. ■“ For being in gaol 1 got a shilling,” ho concluded, holding up the coin, amidst laughter. The boy’s father and Mr Webb, pre sidont of the Now Zealand Federation of Labour, also spoke. s Air AV. Scott Bedford, president of the Wellington Anti - Conscription League, said they wore • told that tho Defence Act would be good for the youth of the country because it would teach them discipline and obedience. He had gone to the gaol to meet Cornish, and some young fellows, who were supposed to have been taught discipline, had not tho decency to let the lad’s parents meet him properlyIf there, was nothing else in the Act but that clause which made it.impossible for any but the higher classes getting commissions, he would oppose ■ it. There was not a single clause in the Act winch promittod n son of a working man becoming an officer. It was time to show that such a pie<jp of class legislation would not bo allowed to remain op the statute book. There was not tho slightest doubt that the action Cornish had taken was having its effect. There were still 13,000 hoys in New Zealand who had not registered. The meeting, which was very enthusiastic throughout, terminated with cheers. To-night another presentation will ho made to Cornish at tho Socialist Hall.