THE VOICE OF THE WORKER

NZ Truth, Issue 570, 20 May 1916, Page 4

THE VOICE OF THE WORKER

ITS SIIENCE IN PARUAMENT

At a time When the working masses of New Zealand were not permitted to learn through the, columns of a recreant daily press the form of Compulsory Military Service, or military yoke, which the National, ; Government had decided to enforce against the people of New Zealand, these samo recreant newspapers ventured to predict that no matter what shape of Conscription of the males took, mombers of Parliament would offer little opposition, implying, of course, that what little opposition was offered would not be worth a second thought. From what quarter opposition was anticipated was not atatod, though, of course, it nood hardly bo mentioned that the anticipated protests or opposition would come from the politicians who are classod as Labor mombora. The indications already given since Parliament opened arc that* not even Labor members will venture to oppose Conscription/ bocause the few who are disposed to raise even despairing voices are conscious that they form a miserable little minority. Cousequently, the silence of these Labor members on such a momentous question as Conscription must be take.n as an affirmation of the willingness of the worker to be led to the shambles of war. Indeed, if we are to accept Mr. A. Veitch, the labor representa-

tive from Wauganui, as speaking for the working slaves of New ! Zealand, the workers are ready and willing to be led like lambs to the slaughter-house, This, ' ' Tru th, ' •'■ at anyrate, ventures to assert is not the real sentiment Of the worker of New Zealand, and Mr. Veitcti, of "Wanganui, will Hv« long enough to realise it. • • •:■.*■■.■ It is not yet too late for the National Government to withdraw its Compulsory Service Bill, and from what has been said m Parliament the Compulsory Service Bill almost caused a split m the Cabinet, and a crisis was just averted. The delay m framing this Bill, the revision after revision to which it was subjected by the Cabinet clearly indicates that oven m the Cabinet .itself the opinion prevailed that Conscription for a country with a population of a little over 1,000,---000 people, was a matter calling for tho gravest consideration. It is not yet too late for Labor's ignoble representatives m Parliament to recant whatever opinions ' they have expressed, and by determining to toll the truth, io give voice to tho unexpressed and unarticulate sontiments of the workers, to force the Government to realise that the workers of this country are entitled to be hoard, to protest against an unprecedented onslaught; on their liber-

ties. Before it is too late the workers of New Zealand should unitedly make every possible lawful use of the organisations to prevent', any kind of. Conscription, or Compulsory Service, Billj from becoming law. They should not be bamboozled with au.y nonsense to the effect that it would only last "for. -the period of the war;" once the tiger of Militarism had tasted blood, it would not be satisfied with Conscription for the period of the war only. When the first. modern Conscription. Bill was introduced (which was by the Directory of the French Republic m 1798) ; tlie Bill was for a period of five years ; only ; but" Prince, was never J afterwards free, from' compulsory military service' j an 4. has to-day the most comprehensive form, of military service among the Powers of Europe, far more far-reaching than that of the Germans. " The voice of Labor, af any rate, of Labor organisations, on this 'most momentous matter has not b>ept heard m New Zealand. "W$ are reminded by a correspondent whose letter appears elsewhere that there is a remarkable same r ness about all the resolutions which have been adopted m various parts of New Zealand urging on the Government the necessity of introducing a Compulsory Service Bill, and we are further reminded by this correspondent that after the "Reform" Government had batoned the 1913 strikers into submission it was proved that the resolutions carried by local bodies approving of the "Square Deal" method, were prompted by Reform organisations, having for its purpose the "battering-urj' 7 of the waning cause of bogus Reform. The suggestion made by "Truth's" correspondent are entitled to the consideration of the working men of , New Zealand, who are too prone to take it lying down. It is not too late for Labor to raise its voice of protest, it is not too late for Labor representatives m Parliament to cry a halt aiid to ondeavpr to prevent Parliament enforcing on the people the cursed system of Militarism. To protest against Conscription is not disloyalty, A man can love his country and be opposed to anything which experience has proved enslaves the worker. The fact that New Zealand has raised 6(V 000 working men, that voluntary enlistments continue to be made, prove the loyalty and devotion of the people. It is not necessary that because there are "shirkers" that Compulsion should be adopted. "Why should it be necessary to enslave a country because a section prefer to shirk? Conscription m New Zealand will have the effect of showing to the Germans that this Dominion was unwilling to aid the Mother Country. •:■ ,' ■•. ' ■ • Has the worker of New Zealand realised what Conscription will mean to him ? Is he willing to submit to this outrage? Labor representatives say he is—by acQuiescing m a Compulsory Service Measure. But why disguise Conscription by giving it another name? From the very beginning the working man has been threatened and bullied. Why? Because he is indifferent. Has the fat, profit-snaring, rich and unscrupulous merchant been threatened with dire pains and penalties if he ventured to exploit the people m war time ? Has any threat been held out to rapacious houseowners against raising the rents of poor people ? No. Why ? Because the Government m power I 'darfl not. If tho exploiters of the people were subjected to one quarter of the threats which have been used towards the workers, there "would be no ever-soaring cost pf necessities, no rack-rent-ing, or robbery. Tho workers submit too readily, they aro too easily led, and too easily betrayed. The present Parliament h.is no mandate from the people to place a Compulsory So vice Bill upoD the Statuto Bookn. Therefore, to be fair to the poople of a country, which holds pricb of place m the Empire for Voluntary Service, the question of Compulsory Ser- j vice ought to be made the subject | of a Referendum. !