"CONSCRIPTION."

Ohinemuri Gazette, Issue 3465, 10 December 1915, Page 4

"CONSCRIPTION."

RAILWAYMEN'S VIEW.

In the editoi'ial comment upon the position of, Labour in regard to the war, and with special reference to the subject of conscription, the official organ of the Locomotive Enginedrivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association declares: "Unless some change takes place conscription is almost sure to be put into force. We think that before the Labour representatives take any .action they shpuld do all in their power to see £hat £he voluntary enlistment is given an impetus. Ber cause, how can they advance any arguments against conscription if the voluntary system has failed? If men are required—and we believe they are urgently required—and they will not voluntarily enlist, well, then, they must be compelled to enlist in their proper turn. Our own opinion is that the voluntary system will not fail if proper steps are taken to ensure its success. But it will rest witJh the objectors to conscription to see that it is a success. It would be impossible for this union to take part in any conference which erects a stone wall against conscription when it is proved up to the hilt that the army is starved for want of volunteers. It would

really mean that we would be assisting to murder our comrades at the front. We are not going to do that, at any rate. We candidly Say that conscription must be enforced if our men fail to enrol. ... If men will not come forward and voluntarily offer their services, well, let us have conscription. We think every one of our members would prefer conscription now to defeat by a nation which, if they became the victors, would not hesitate to apply conscription even during a period of peace."