VOLUNTARYISM VINDICATED

NZ Truth, Issue 605, 20 January 1917, Page 4

VOLUNTARYISM VINDICATED

JARS AND ' MONEY "MATTERS ■

Since iho fateful fourth of Aufrust. 1014, when the nllhloss Prussian war-. dogs 1 wore lot looso to raye, raze and ravugo throughout Europe, und to spread wreck and ruin on the high seas, there have been three Parliamentary sessions m God's Own. Dur- | lnjr each of thoso Hcssions. and more i especially during' that of 191 C, the question of recruiting men *or our relnforroiiiftiitK, and determining the rewards fur the mime, nnd-Vhe amount of tho uUuwances lv bo paid to soldiers' wlrea or other dependento, has taken up tho major portion of the time ot the Hoitse. Those wore quosi tloit:? which Unit tho "Square Dcnl" M:usscy Governtncnt, and Hubsequently tho Nutlonal Oovcrnutent (though parhaps m a somewhat , lessor degree) seemed to think oug-ht to bo ea:;>* ot settlement. And, no doubt, *>o thi-y would havo been, had tho Bnirll thut animated our present rulers been tho' same ns that which inspired tho k-g---iulutive and ndminlatratlvo. Acts of [both John liallance and Richard John 1 Seddon. Their motto \\ii»: "i.«Bt Now Zealand Load." Those oallotl by v pcr\*erso futo'to jjovorn thin Dominion during tho ■ present tt-xribh: time >;-H no Eueh purpose boforo Jlifin. They were, and nro, confessedly a "olhkm" Cabinet, and an a vln&tt Ca»>inpt they conceived. Initiated. pa».<ic>d and tulmtnlHlercd Icjfislntlvo Acts*. Th«y «rlod n. halt In MuorilJindVi fc-rv.-it-il m >n .->. They were content t<"> follow. I'«.i«t---i llkfl.'n. lont? way off. and il \vnt« wlilki they wow dominated with thin i><iliticiO "go slow" dope, that they ilrst ttii'ltled tho (jiiL^tion i>f Hxliijt th<* daily wajto of our Holdler boyti and \Ua uilowuncvs to b« made to their dopoudents. Inspired with such an ideal,

•• .■- I I or rather, want of ideal, an ml'K.ht | havi; been prognosticated, the amounts i agreed upon won* murh below what j "Truth" and many ofhmi eonßick'rt)>i j either just, or adequate. . • o « A*t this time, of course, tho ruthlessnoss of tho German onslaught the brutal conduct of the conscript armies Of. the Prussian war-lord had stirred into hJUer resentment the pal- j riotie blood of ihe youiu; manhood of | Muorilund. Thousands of our b««t .j and bravest rushed to the- colors to j offer their services, to do or die: m ! aiding tho Motherland to atom the- j tklo of tho murderous marauders who I h;nl brolcon their pledge] word to lv-;- I glum. So pure wum their unti-UnSfu'n, \ no upontant'OHfi wa;> (iiuir .-n-»ion tha: ' they ntvur as nuu'h :ih iiu>nUniHHl p:iy [ What wore thwy Koin>; to rf-ooivi-'- : Tlksl suroiy was not tho timf to ns\: \ such a question. What was wanted j war. action, .quick and <;entiiii. Th-y j were Rolns; to (H^ht. for Now Jica land's j honar. and ihoy felt (licy could Jcavo j It to Now ".eahnul's rwlrrs to hc\\> Y.<'-\>\ that honor un^ullii-d l»y doulin?; j'«Kt',y. i ay. liber-ally, with thorn m\>\ v.-fh ! theirs when they w*-n- al.fc.-a bf;irin-; ; tho tKitt'o's brunt for them. ft w.-.-: ; a nobU't and a irt'iurruux attijij.i:- £•■;• j our bo\M to t ; v 1 1 4> tip, ;.ful i-;i" V:\:.< ; voltjrues I'nr Ut- purity t.<f t:?"':- | uiollves and thi^ir |>ur; .>: : c m vtiK:u- j tvrlnst to h**l;» tho .N^M.hcrtii'.ul m i';..» ! lifiiir •>( ht-r gr<'U! -u:d truiiSO--. i P,t:t i! betrayed a suti J.-.'-Jt >>t WnviiVy ] wisdom -'uiO n \<>in\ \xn<>n\v.t-i> ,>{ shr j >i;irk and dwloriK ways <>( t!i<* jiolUt- ■ clmum and ii;t> «.-xiil>.»il«?r.'t vvh<> tuSe ant. ' r-.;n thiH country. A ritdi< uv,.i),..«nin>r wits In *tn!V fcr lltfiu, n! f .>l !'. •.v.-i.". ti. , t-<.m" <'.:ri>. tl;-i;n'.!> not huforo -,t w..: : wanted. j

Before the opening of the 1915 Parliamentary 'session much dissatisfaction was beginning- to be expressed by the dependents of the men wounded m the Gallipoli campaign. It is unnecessary that "Truth should, emphasise this by recalling any. specific case. Many of these wfll suggest themselves at once to our readers' minds. But that the complaints were well-grounded, and all too numerous, was soon demonstrated by '"the effect l"hpy had oh the recruiting scores. The number of men corning forward as recruits m the different centres began to shrink visibly. This, .not because of a letting^up on the conviction that Britain's cause was a rigiteous one. Our boys were as enthusiastic as ever m favor of the Old Land, bu£ the unsettling, rumors concerning the treatment of wounded men and. of their, dependents and also of the dependents of men who had fallen fighting for .the nag gave them pause. They wanted some _ thing more tangible than promises — which, at best, are but wind-; puddings— faring which inflates, Ibut; neitherfeeds nor fattens. They wanted to see it put flown In black and white •on the Statute book of the Dominion, so that they might know exactly how their loved-ones would laro m their absence. After nutch pleading and speechifying, higgling and haggling,, this was done, but the amounts fixed upon, though In normal times one might consider fair, had become absolutely inadequate because of the Government's want . of fore-sight and courage. The 'dost -of -living, owing to the cupidity of the profit-pinchers, had been bumped up so high that tho re-^ turned soldier's pension and the allowance to the soldier's wife or other dependent had become altogether inadequate. Radical and Labor members m the House protested firstly against the '.niggardliness with which the Government was.- doling out help to those entitled to it, a^nd also at its inactivity m dealing with the provision pirate, and the rack-renter. The list of fresh recruits was still further contracting, and various spurts and plans had . to be put m operation to help to augment the numbers going into. camp m order that none ot our monthly reinforcements should have to leave our shores even one man short. It was pointed otit time and time again from the Labor and Radical benches m the House, as well as consistently, insistently ;and persistently 'in .the columns of "Truth," that if the Government would remove the "fear of want" from those the. soldier left behind,, by providing an adequate allowance, there would be no dearth of men to fill the vacancies m camp as they arose. But tho 'Government refused to augment the scale already agreed upon, the cost of living to increase,, and the number of recruits enlisting continued to grow more beautifully less as the days went past. '.'-.•''. # « : Just about this time the cables brought us the unwelcome news that, after raising a voluntary army of five million men, the Mother Country had passed a Conscription Act. The "Square Dealer" here inaugurated the "following- the Motherland" cry. Wo had' followed her m forming a National Government. Wo had followed her mi increasing, the amount of a soldierly pension, and of dependents' allowance. We must follow her m passing a Conscription Act. "Truth" stood out "a lone one 'midst tho throng" m opposition to this antlBrltish measure. But the workers did not seem to realise what it would mean to them, and no organised effort was made to oppose it, -Although a great majority m the House • hated the thing, when the Bill came before Parliament on the second reading, not half-a-dozen members were present to vote against- it. And so, conscription became the law of our land. In vain did John Tayne, Jamie -McCombs, Al?. Htndmarsh and one or two . others plead m the House for the Government to place the soldier on the same footing as to income* as the average civilian. In vain did they point out that all that was, wanted m order to obtain a 'sufficient' and continuous supply of men, until our actual last man had volunteered, was to secure to their dependents the same standard of income, and comfort m their absonce as they enjoyed when they remained at their civilian labors. The Minister of Defence scbuted the idea as wild and preposterous. It was impossible to carry it out. The finances of the country would not stand' the strain. It was pensionism run mad. Tho Government! would get the men by means of tho Military Service Act. Tho men would bo drawn by ballot, and "tho law would take its course." And so the Act was placed upon the Stato Book, find tho proposal to augment the soldier's reward was -turned tiown with a - bang. go * Then Parliament was prorogued. The Ttight Hon. William Fererusoa Massoy, P.i:.. and Sir Joseph Ward. Bart, went home to bo wined and dined, feted -md feasted at the people's expense, and the Hon. James Allen was Icfc a.s Conk o' the Walk for tho time beinK- Since, thc-n the Military Service Act ha:* como iiuo operation and three ballots havo •been drawn. The Appeal Boards liavo i t'vn "chock-a-block" with appeals for exemption, m addition io tills there havu been f;r;vv<? rumors that quite a i"in:>idorai'ip number or men have failed to answer th<> summon;-:. Some few have openly declared their intention not to ilon the khaki .\vh;it«v r hajntens*, but by for Ilia larger nunib.-r of ';ilittunteeV have- taken up tin- attitud" known :u< tliul of the passive register. Hi.vv -many nre included m .this category only the Government and ita reyponsiMe oflldata know, anil If the numl.-or m uny way within roo-ce o£ ihaf estimated by the num-in-the lUn.'et, then ther>'« i»:tr? io;< ;<vo not K l >!r.tf Jo proclaim the uurnljt-r of t.'L-fcmUers from the housetops „y in i.hr-. ruurki'tphu'ef. A .'So."viinjf utYaw rsljowa how the Htrr.-.uii ilows, and froiii the v;ir!m::-; fj;>pr-iils that have falh-n from the lips of the Mtnisu-r of Defe^eo ttrsrin;,' the "eanm rlpt't" to obey tin- <wl!. the <:x---ter.Mun of thf lir.i" m v.'hiivh i ?•,«•■,• Jiiav i.iij ;-o v.'iliiuul briuj; iH:v!ared U'-.sriti-r.s, ;:ml Olhor Htlifi :.-i*:ns i.u-l (>nrti-,H;i :i!>---i » : i - i> ,i., ni!;'clH sii.w :;t i'.\i.-.i iln- muii-tn-the-.streft. fcvein.H u> Know wlku \u- \a UMkwij-' :ib;>lU. Thejv ,i;c a]«i ;n\'f:!<Vlou.v v.'hjiipei'fc romiiifr from viM r«irii«-r*» v,i;U-U !>v(; ui.'*lr.rl;jns{ m tic- oNirrin-.;. Th.hi: have Tor tlM'ir bur-i- ;i tiu- f,t:ae. : Slier, f. U».::t I}).- Whole :iiai-)Uu--rv ill C.:iw< !i«k! with llii' Sflrciiiiii i.c* vi.<^ :;n u ,i:n! tlie- vnfon^'tii'Mtl. t;i' i'y." i>r»vh ; i;,-'; of the A>:l ar>! Uk- si..v/, i <■..., njm!-cr-iu.m^, wii «:oj*;;y. nmi. further. lUM wi'-'H ii. (■oi-i* 1 .:, '■> lUi: hiii! i.l<-. : U!i»f; V.:l!t >•(■■ -(.iis.itrj <il)j<>c:'.>:-:i n r >< t!i!.><> u\>nV-'-r- --(.>;' iiu- t':i M:\>x have «;u? !i^-; ; )t. t-v i:;:!:;. 1 on v,\U'friir r.i-'.-.nur^s In 1 -*;;;:' Uxi.- v ;i! le.i:'t. iU'it lijitll ihr tsec.-l •■..-' i;i< n !•<•- --cumi-i »»•.■: c ■ UuniinJ. ' So s ;: Th.::i" ',v; ( rt tho (>O:n! al \vhi'-!| ! tic r.uif- :s<lvh:i«-,-i.I }\n )uln Tf; <«f I hi.- ( *:iliil»irl ii.dl :;.f riV«-.« ?-.•[)■>• iiislir ;!;;<> ;ili 1 th'-y h.i\<.' hr.'!» j.:i;u-t,Uy w;vit.i:jc for th»« (■■ij'i Uv-\(!^)c:i\ !iiu;,:> ji; to j>r«.-.s« fnrwaril

their ideas of what should bo done, ay of -what should have been done long ago. It -was not, however, till within the past two weeks that the Dominion War Office found itself up against a stiff proposition, and their opportunitj' came. Prolonged meetings of the Cabinet were held and the progressive members, finding their turn had come, pressed for a much more liberal scale of allowances to recruits and their dependents. In this they were successful, although they did not get quite all they asked for. The additional grants now announced," and subject to certain necessary conditions, amount to a maximum addition of £2 per week for the purpose of meeting financial obligations m regard to (a) rent; (b) interest and instalments payable m respect of loans and mortgages; , (c) interest and instalments- 1 payable m respect of agreements for the purchase of a dwelling house business premises, furniture and- the like;" (d) rates and taxes; (c) insurance premiums; (f) expenses incurred m respect of the management of his business during his military service. These, be it noted, were the very reasons repeatedly put forth by Messrs. Payne, McCombs, Witty, Wilford, Vigor Brown, and others, while the House was m session, why liberal allowances ought to bo made to the soldiers. Mr. McCombs, more than, any other member m the House,". had/drummed at the necessity for such grants being made. Not only while m the House, but during each recess, he has never .."derailed" m his contention that the necessary men would be forthcoming, if the Government would secure them against any economic loss arising out of their act of enlistment. It was his conviction that if the Government would have done' as he asked that there would have been no need for conscription. The new grants to our soldiers, therefore, are an acknowledgment that Mr. McCombs had better seused the situation months ago than any of the old Parliamentary, hands were "able to dd or had the courage to confess, if they" did. (i At time of writing neither the "N.Z. Times" nor the "Evening Post" has dealt with the new regulations editorially.. The organ of the Square Deal— the- " 'Dough-minion' 1 — has, and its remarks ' "does us proud." Tho '"Minion" says: The proposed grant is a substan- ; tial one; but it should not on that account bo regarded as an exhibition? pf generosity on the part of the State. It is nothing more than an act of justice, and the only surprising thing about it is the. fact that it has so long been delayed. And why has it been So long delayed? Because, when the Labor and Radical members were pressing for what the Square Dead organ now admits "is nothing, more thanan act of justice," the "Dough-minion" and the rest of the, Plute pen-pushers, declared that their suggestions were, preposterous, their demands absurd, and that if even a partial concession, further than that then offered by the Cabinet, was made, the whole economic machinery would stand Ih need of revising if it didn't absolutely "break down." Was there ever a greater volte face than is ■confessed m the above? The revising of the economic machinery, apparently, is not . now a process that is to be feared, and even the risk of its complete breakdown is to be faced with equanimity. And why? Turning to another part of the "Dominioiff 1 we *md the answer s taring: us m the eye lit a largo letter-heading. Hero 'is is: Good Thing for Recruiting. It is a "good thing for recruiting." Why? And what is the urgent necessity to provide good things for recruiting now that did not exist twelve months, ny, twp years ago? If this ''erood thing"* was unnecessary then, how has it suddenly become necessary now, more especially as the State has m operation the Drag Net Act, which In due time will gather m- every eligible man m the country? The new regulations are a vindication of voluntaryism, belated, but, nevertheless, ejnphatic. Again, listen to tho repentant voice of the "Square Deal" scribe: . f rhu State has no right to send a man away to fight for it without . bearing its fair share of any losses nnd inconveniences which may result from his absenco from homo. . 'Die brave men who are risking their lives m order to maintain the freedom and protect tho .lives and property of those who stay bohind are entitled to generous treatment. Hui the State did do so. What's more, tho "Dominion" and the party behind it. foisted upon the country a Military Service Act which empowered the State to "compel" a man to go and flßht under just these very conditions which the. "Dominion" declare;* the Stulo linn no right to do even when the, man i« a. consenting party. Ami what about tho 1oh« and suffering which these men and tholr dependants havo been forced to suffer during the past two years? Tho now regulations, "Truth" takes it, nre retrospective. They cannot m fairness be otherwise. The men who have been njrhtlns al the front for months, the dependant** o:' the men who have Riven their lives or ilieir limbs or have beers otherwise unrated to earn their living, tholr claims must bo met, not srinltflnKly, but m full measure heaped uj> and running over.