CHEAP FICTION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12930, 7 December 1912, Page 3

CHEAP FICTION.

(Speci*! to Herald.) CHRIS-CHURCH, this day. As an vindication of th© wide circulation which is being given- to the Jihel s on New Zealand perpetrated by pe anti-miUtaristslitT may be mentioned that the editor ot the Press received by last mail from a mttler in East Kootienay.. British Columbia, an extract from a paper called the Watefcman, published in Washington, U.S.A., jepeating the story about the "persecution of bpys by hundreds" for refusing to serve in the defence force, and ' 'young boys sons of the best kind of people in New Zealand between the 'ages fit- 1£ and 21," being in the convict dress, bavwg their ringer prints taken like criminals, picking osfcum, and , in solitary , cdnfineroent for iSteen hours per day7 etc. The writer eUtes that he had intended m the near! future «to come but to New Zealand with h& family, but if what the clipping state* is true he would prefer to stay »* «>e s¥fc'Arctic regions, where he is at present,*, f^Tadds that he hao always been^dn admin»r of Aew Zealanders and the"r progressive policy, arid on reading the clipping referred te, he peceiVed •an unexpected shock, m themore wrote to ask whether the atatSmeats made were true, adding : "I fchall/be"iev#j)othing against gallant Httll New Zealand until their own press the editor has wrl^en, assurintr^iis -orrespondent that he need pot hS&e to come to New Zealand with Ws family on account of the Defence Act,Wthe best .reply to the defama. tory , statements circulated ftbo»t the Dominion and the" national training eyaSm. be sent the East Kpotlenay enqferer » copy of the very fair and temperate letter forwarded by the Pahiatua Honorary Terntoriahv Association;; to the Manchester Guardian, anoth4r English paper x*Wh had been publishing the antl-m'Hta*M statejmerits. ; . 7 ■ .