The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1918. POLITICAL BOLSHEVISM.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11477, 4 March 1918, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1918. POLITICAL BOLSHEVISM.

WE should think that the most extreme political opponents of Sir James Allen could hardly be able to withhold their sympathy from him under the savage harrying to

which he is daily exposed hy personal enemies under the easily penetrable guise of political criticism. The intention to wound.his feelings, tojnisrepresent him, and to harass him beyond the point of human endurance is plain to the least observant. It keeps his pen going incessantly in explanation and defence. Only bn Monday last he issued a statement to the Press, which ran into four columns of newspaper type, repelling accusations which had no foundation whatever, which had been levelled against his department of having made martyrs of fourteen conscientious objectors. The false, sickly sentimentality which has been poured over these savagely defiant shirkers, the mental agony suffered by their distracted mothers, and the oceans of tears shea by [fathers who refused to be comforted, have been absolutely [disgusting. Here is [ a gem of the kind which has culled from a speech which demanded departmental changes. “Fourteen men and boys with conscientious objections are forcibly carried from" New Zealand; they are subjected to treatment born of the spirit of Diocletian; some of them are taken in irons to France; three of them—one of them a boy of between 21 and 22—are forced to the firing line; their mothers are almost frantic with anxiety and grief, and for months the Departmen tells them it -can give them no information as to the fate of their boys ”

Now, what of this silly parallel which the speaker sought to establish between the Roman Emperor, Diocletian, and Sir denies Allen? The ora of Diocletian was known as the “Era of the'Martyrs. ” He commenced the persecution of the Christians by practically outlawing them, but 'soon proceeded to the most savage measures, gave them up to the fury of the soldiers and the populace, and great numbers of them were cruelly massacred by a variety of methods of inflicting death. Where does Sir James Allen come in as a companion in wholesale slaughter of the innocents? And where, again, do the absolutely piggish shirkers compare with the meek and lowly followers of the Christ, whose blood was shed in torrents because.of their religious beliefs? Sir James Allen a second Diocletian, and the sullen and stubborn shirkers comparable to the saintly women who wore slaughtered to make a Roman holiday! The sense of proportion of a man who could seriously utter such arrant nonsense must bo something in the way of a disease. But it is characteristic oT the whole of the violent and vicious crusade against the Defence Minister, and the Government generally, which listens to no explanations, [and accepts no corrections, which is clamouring for the repeal of the Conscription Act and endeavouring to embarrass the Administration by every means in its power.

Ami what of the victims of the moderuDiocletian about whose tragic fate we are asked to join our outcries with their “frantic mothers?” Ihe statement made by Sir James Allen proves that there is 'not a religious objector among them. He states that in every case in which a religious objection could be proved to carrying arms the objectors were given non-combatant work. But the whole of the fourteen are ‘defiant objectors. * One case is tj r pical of all the others as given in the report: “£3369 Lawrence Joseph Kirwan. — This man was drawn in the fourth ballot, did not take the trouble to appeal, was arrested as a deserter and sent into camp where he refused orders. He cannot be classed as conscientious objector, but a a a defiant objector.” The report says that during the voyage on the Waitemata the fourteen men absolutely: refused to obey any orders, or to do any fatigue work about the ship. Some days they refused to take exercise, and earlier in the voyage they refused to keep their quarters clean. They refused to do anything even for themselves; they would not observe ordinary cleanliness, with the result that they had to be forcibly bathed; their civilian outfits were condemned by the medical officer and they had to be forcibly dressed in uniform. They continued their defiant attitude throughout. Although the general attitude towards them could not be and was not one of sympathy, there was at least one officer who made efforts for their reformation, but all that lie could do proved a failure, and they arrived at their destination as they had commenced their service, defiant and refusing to obey orders. When they arrived in England, out of that tolerant consideration for them which had been shown throughout, they were not-sent to the front because they would have been shot for refusing duty in the face' 'of the enemy and. although some of them have since become stretcher bearers, the remainder

are still giving trouble. Much more might have been quoted from the Minister’s reporFto justify'.the very harshest treatment of ' them, but enough has been given to show that they are not of the kind whose heads show a nimbus, and that those who are endeavouring to pose them as martrys are simply mischievous trouble makers.

Don’t forget the MioriEntertainment in Marton Town Hall to-morr-ow night. ’ The Marton Retailers Association notifies that shops in Marton will be closed at 11 a.m: on Wednesday next (show day), A list of Colonial recipients of the British Empire Orders will probably be issued about the middle,[of March.

Deductions from the figures given by Mr Herbert Hoover, the United States Food Controller, show that 7 per cent, of the shipments from America to Great Britain last year were lost through submarines. The King and Queen and the Palace household closely adhere' to the new food scheme. The Royal table is frequently without butter or meat. No alcohol is used, the pledge being rigorously observed.

The. returning olficer for the Licensing district ot Rangitikei gives notice that on account of nominations of candidates being only sufficient to fill the vacancies the gentlemen so nominated are declared elected. The names of the Commission are published in our advertising columns. Mr Richard B. Haybittle, of Wellington’, celebrated his ninetyfourth birthday on Monday last, and was the recipient of many congratulations from friends and relatives. Mr Haybittle, who still enjoys fairly robust health, resides with his daughter, Mrs David Scott, Woolcombe Street. Mrs A. H. Sutcliffe, of Marton, is another daughter.

If you intend preserving fruit tor the coming winter do so without delay, for all lines mentioned here are going up. Some will be unobtainable very shortly. Pears, Williams, Bon Chretien, from 121bs upwards, Jd lb; peaches, choice dessert, or bottling, (5s case 241 b; tomatoes choice table, 5d lb, 9s case; for sauce, (is esse 241 b; French beans very young.for pickling, 121bs 2s (id. —J. B. Barrington, Marten.* As an instance of the circumlocution of thedSTew Zealand brass hats a witness before the Defence Expenditure Committee, s id that an officer had been refused permission to use his own car to cover his own district and that tha matter of connecting the Drill Hall at Westport with the drainage system had been the subject of correspondence with the Head quarters since August last. Owing to the rise in tiie cost of materials, the work would now’ cost £BO more than first estimated.

In giving his decision in an assault case gat Wellington yesterday, Mr McCarthy, S.M., replying to a statement of counsel that the defendant had considerable provocation, and that this should be taken into consideration, said he was not going to recognise the unwritten law. A man had been assaulted bj r two soldiers in Auckland, and two men assaulted in Feilding, and he was not going to be a party to the recognition to any unwritten law. There w’ssa proper legal course to pursue, and it would never do to allow a suspicious young husband to take the law into his own hands. The defendant was iined £lO.

During Friday night upwards of £4O was stolen from a safe in the office at Messrs. Devrell and Grim min’s livery st.ilbes, at Waini. Tiie safe does not appear to have been damaged, and it is not clear tint it was locked up over night, so that the thief found his task a simple one. The door of the office is not usually locked,- it being custoraarj T to leave it on latch for the benefit of callers. The money stolen included some cheques, one or two of which were known to iiavebeen marked “not negotiable.” The position in Dunedin in regard to potatoes is reported to be causing much uneasiness. Supplies coming forward no more than meet requirements, and this is considered an unsatisfactory sign at this time of the year, when stocks in hand should be abundant. The bulk .of the main crop will not be dug till later on, but everything points to a smaller yield than, that obtained last year. • The cause of the trouble is blight, .due to the wet season.

A worthy old son of the soil , Mr W. Liddicbat, of Mangaweka, called in at N. Z. Times office the other day and displayed with pardonable pride, the portrait of himself, wife and six soldier sons in khaki. All the sous have been at the front, and two returned with honourable wounds. In addition to the six fighting sons, who look stalwart and intelligent, Mr and Mrs Liddicoat have three other sons at home and four girls. This is a record no Cabinet Minister can equal, but the old man is hot looking.for a seat in Parliament, nor expecting a Distinguished Conduct Med«l. He deserves well of his country all the s.mo, and the example he has set should inspire others to keep the cradle full and provide plenty of defenders for these fortunate isles.

We direct the attention of our readers to the Northern Furniture Co. ’s advertisement now appearing on page 2of this issue. This enterprising firm having now decided to supply the public direct from their factory, cutting out all the high profits of the retailer, sucn as heavy shop rents, salesmen’s wages, etc., thus guaranteeing the buyer a saving of 5s in the pound, and as they sell for casli only you are not required to help to pay for other people’s bad debts. This firm has a reputation all over the North Island of producing the finest possible goods, and having personally inspected some of their production we have no hesitation in strongly recommending them to the consideration of our readers when next buying furniture. All goods are packed free of charge.

Messrs Lloyd’s, Ltd., dressmaking department is now under' the manhgemeiit of Miss Gillespie, w ho is a first-class modiste. Ladies can rely on getting the usual courteous attention and every satisfaction regarding smart styles and perfect fitting garments. On page 1 will he found the firm’s replace avertisement, calling special attention to their now dress fabrics.*