ALLEGED TERRORISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 7

ALLEGED TERRORISM.

LABOUR CHARGES DISPROVED. £Fnou Oi;r Own* Cop.rerpovpknt I WELLINGTON, August 13. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. James Allen) made a statement to the House of Representatives this afternoon dealing with charges made against the Defence Department. These charges came from the West Coast, and were t 6 the effect that the department, in its administration, was guilty ot ** terrorism ” and special vindictiveness against Labour men.

Mr Allen said he had caused inquiries to be made into these charges, and had received a report from the ollicor commanding the Canterbury district which replied to them in detail.

The officer’s report, as read by ilia Minister, stated: “ After investigation it is found—

“1. That there is no truth in the statement that any persons connected with tbo Labour or any other movement were prosecuted while others were allowed to evade service. When any case of evasion of service comes to the knowledge of officers in this district steps are at once taken to cause the offender to comply with the Act, if it is a case of neglect to register, first by sending him a notice calling upon him to do so. If tins fails information is laid against him, as is done in cases of failure to render personal service. Youths aic prosecuted without any reference to their occupation, bur it would appear that there are more cases of breaches of the Defence Act by those connected with the Labour movement than with anv other.

‘‘2, There is evidence of a considerable amount of terrorism at Runanga of bovs who arc willing to take up their military duties, and it appears that some of them arc more willing to break the law than to put up with the taunts, jeers, and tricks played upon them at work and boycotting, which are more keenly felt by boys'than by adults. The officer in charge of Group No. HA reportsßoys at Runanga have stated that they are willing to drill, but not at Runanga, being evidently afraid of the attitude towards them of those opposed to the Defence Act. It is very difficult to sheet home a direct charge against men for terrorising boys, as there are so many ways in which a boy can be made to feel very keenly, such as jeering and making insulting remarks. A youth named —— is known to have sold out his business of greengrocer through being boycotted for telling the magistrate in court that he was willing to drill, which statement was hoard by a number of Runanga people who wore present. A youth named , who attended camp last year, told me personally that his life was made almost unbearable on his return by taunts while at work and when passing along the street. Ho has since left the mine, and is now working for a lets wage in Grcymouth. Another man, who attended, the last casual camp held in Grey mouth, told mo that his life was made very* unpleasant by petty tricks being played on him while at work, so much so that he was doubtful alxtut remaining there. Two others have applied for exemption —both employed in different stores —on the grounds that should they drill it would seriously affect their employers’ businesses. Covering letters from their employers confirming

their statements were attached to the applications. it was arranged that prosecutions should take place in the foliowing order: Hokitika, Greymoutii, ant Rununga. At Grcymouth the cases wore strongly defended, and defects in the Act wore pointed out. so the remaining eases at that place and Runangi were abandoned, pending the amending of the Act. When this was passed last year, for convenience the llunanga eases were taken first, and with as little delay as possible. Mr Semple, sen., has not been prosecuted in this district, and nothing is known of his arrest. Information was laid against Mr Semple for refusing to give information regarding his son’s age. Ho was fined, but, not having paid the fine for ,601115 weeks, he was arrested.’ ” After reading the report, Mr Allen said ho made this statement because some more or less definite charges had been made against the department by Labour members of tlie community He was very sorry to confess that from the evidence, so far as it was disclosed, it appeared that there had been a certain amount of terrorism going on in tire Runanga district —terrorism imposed on lads willing, apparently, to serve, but frightened to do so on account cf this terrorism. He hoped that the terrorism would ccaso, and that the boys willing to obey the law would not have any obstacle put in tho way of doing their duty 111 respect of the law. He made this statement because he thought it was only fair that tho department’s side should be made public as well as the other side.