THE DEFENCE ACT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12259, 9 June 1914, Page 7

THE DEFENCE ACT.

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. Per Press Association. Christehureh, .Tune 6. A deputation from the. National Peace Council and kindred bodies waited on "the Prune Minister .to-day in regard to -the.. Defence' Act: '; The deputation was introduced by Mr .1. M'Combs, M.P. Mrs Wells, one of the speakers, said that boys were imprisoned,, and had to associate with criminals.

Mr Massey: That is not being done, and you'should not exaggerate.' Mrs Wells: It has been done. - Mr Massey; It, is not being done now. You are going too far. Mrs Wells concluded by. saying that the Act had been launched .'by scaremongers. • In reply, the Prime Minister, said that he was pleased to hear the members of the deputation, blithe did not agree with their views. Ho was,ji(st.us' anxious to preserve peace as anypnit' else, but how. was the Empire to, b> kept together if they did not keep it in a state of defence? If it was right that defence should be undertaken by the Empire, it was also right that this part of,the Empire should do its share.. There was no other way than the present by which 'New Zealand -could get into a position of defence. New Zoa-. land was simply following the example uf other countries. If New Zealand was going to do justice to its people it' must do justice to the Empire. He did not agree with the views expressed about the effect of military training. His own boys were not of training age, but if they were and they, declined to do their d'lity to the country'he wouldbe ashamed "of them. He would disown them. _ It had been suggested that. the Government should, '"to -Japan, or at least endeavor to explain away the statements made by General Hamilton. He did not'intend to do anything of the sort, and he would" not be'a member of any Government that' would do anything of the sort. He might not agree with all t.hat -General Hamilton said, hut he was not going to reflect on a man who had done. .such, good service for .the Empire. The Defence Act was not perfect, and he would like the Peace Society to- coma along and suggest where it could be improved. . . A Voice: Wipe it out. Mr Massev said that a scheme of defence had "been approved by. Parliii-' inent, and .-the.' people.-—("No!") His Government took the responsibility, of the Defence Act, just as. did 'the''Go* vernment which placed it on the Stir tute Book. The..Government was.wilV ing to; improve the Act, but it" held that the young fellows of this country must he trained to do their duty in tlio event of the Empire being brought to war. The present Government was going to stand or fall by the Defence Act. "If yon don't agree with that you will I get your remedy at the end of the year. Vote against us.'' The deputation: Hear, heai.

s Mr Massey: We are not goiny; hack in the slightest degree on the of the Defence Act.