The Sun THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1915. THE ANTI-CONSCRIPTIONISTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 566, 2 December 1915, Page 6

The Sun THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1915. THE ANTI-CONSCRIPTIONISTS.

On Tuesday last we published the text of a circular issued by thej United Federation of Labour to all unions urging the unions to be represented at an anti-conscription conference to be held in Wellington next January. According to the official note, the conference "is convened for the purpose of discussing the question of conscription and the attitude of Labour thereto." The unions are warned in melodramatic words that "the life of trades unionism is at stake." is eminently characteristic of the Federation when it is forced to bolster up a weak case, arid, in our opinion,, the direful prospect held out by the Federation Executive will impress i none l>ut unrepresentative Labour—which includes many of those now occupying prominent positions /in the movemept. The life of Jxades unionism is not at stake, as the Federation leaders know well." It is not trades unionism which is the Federation's concern, but the anti-militar-ist principles avowed by an unhappy few since long before the war. When the Government proposed to take the National Register, the FedeLabour protested solemnly against such , a proposal on the ground that it was -really conscription—or its thin edge—in disguise. Official denial and assurance went for riaiight; the Federation was hot to be convinced that the register was not the overture to compulsion. Now We have this strange and essentially illogical minority out to instruct the workers as to the real meaning of conscription. We do not think the workers need or desire such an explanation as the Federation of Labour includes in its circular note. The usual terrible picture is painted —".the introduction of all tl|£ pvils of military domination which happens; when the civil authorities are made subservient to the military." Words,- words, words! If before we had the Socialist melodramatic here he is circumlocutory and disingenuous. Why is this Labour executive not more specific? What are all or some "of the evils of military domination"? Why this pother of staled generalities? If the Federation of Labour is really innocent in its interpretation of conscription, it can be enlightened at short notice and in brief space. So far as New Zealand is concerned, conscription, if and when it comes, will mean that we prefer British freedom and British justice to German "Kultur," and to that end, that all men who can shall serve. This definition might | be expanded considerably, but j not more effectively. Are . the Red Feds prepared tohelp -keep the Dominion British? If they are assured that without compulsion the Empire—and New Zealand is an important part of the Empire—pmust succumb, are they 'still content to preach their anti-conscriptionist doc-. triries? The ranks of the New Zealand soldiery at the Dardanelles are crowded with working men who haye no delusions as to the righteousness of the cause they are fighting, or as to the need for every available man. That need will become intensified as the war drags on. New Zealand must keep faith with the Mother Country, in the matter- of reinforcements, and if, in the months ahead, that means the adoption of the compulsory system, then the compulsory system it will have to be. The possibilities of voluntary enlistment have not yet been exhausted, but when they are drained dry, then there can be but one alternative. From that alternative the. Federation of Labour Executive shrinks. Why? It will not be used until all other means fail. In the face of the critical situation, in the face of the crying needs of Britain to-day, in the face of our own responsibilities, arc the workers of New Zealand going to support this anti-conscription movement? The genuine trades unionists can be relied on to offer the most effective reply.