ANTI-MILITARIST DEPUTATION.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13414, 11 May 1912, Page 4

ANTI-MILITARIST DEPUTATION.

DISPLAY OF DISGRACEFUL

CONDUCT.

(Special to "Tha Colonist.")

Christchurch, May 10. The Anti-Militarist agitation \n the city is shared to some extent by some members of the fair sqx, who this a'vwncon waited on. the Hon. Mr. Myers, and laid their views before him. It was very evident that some of those present took a merely theoretical interest in thequestion. On the other hand there wero those, who, ac the mothers of lads who had suffered imprisonment, fc)i a \ery poignant interest. Tha interview was a remarkable one; some of the speakers stated their views with a volubility and extravagance of language which took away from the deputation's protest the dignity it might have had. The deputation was introduced by Mr. L. U. Isitt, M.P. After the official speaker had been heard, a woman, whose son had been, imprisoned, said that it was a sliama that honest respectable boys should be sent to gaol, and were made criminals. She had expected more liberty in this land than there was in the dear Old Land, but she had not found it. Fancy. Britishers coming under compulsory military training! More than one widow had had her son taken from her. | Another woman, who insisted on speaking, said that she had brought her children from a free country to a conscript one*. She thought the Government should b© ashamed of themselves. She had seen her boy in criminals i clothes. "Why don't you tackle the men, and leave tha boys a.one. If you are afraid of the men, tackle the women. My boy will never become a conscript, and you can just do what you like." Another woman, whose tongue had not lost its Old Country accent, voiced a very vehement and aggressive protest on much the same lines. She said it wa s time that a Government which was out against the workers all the time should be withdrawn. They should be ashamed of themselves.

The. Minister had attempted unsuccessfully to stem the torrent of speeches, and finally ho rose and insisted en. making his reply. He said that he fully recognised tho earnest spirit of the speakers. This was certainly the most frank deputation ho had ever receivod. when tho ladies took up any matter that appealed to their consciences ther© was- no one more in earnest. Ho vas not surprised at their ■earnestness, and neither was he surprised at thoir extravagant language. The Minister was not allowed to proceed very far before- a babel of dissent broke out, and remarks of a painfully fraesort were addressed to him from a section of the audience. Quite- a aum , ber of ladies who were taking the aifair quietly, sat back and smiled. Finally Mr. Isitt rose and made a remonstrance, and Mr. Myers was allowed to proceed. Mr. Myers went on to say that personally, having lost his father %t an early age, he had been in a position to fully appreciate the, care of a good mother. He recognised that women were more directly and indirectly interested than me.n in the Act. He'intended to speak very, frankly'to them. They resented the encroachments of the rich and privileged, but they must recognise their responsibility. The system had been brought in to keep this free country freer.

An incredulous whistle came from the audience; it may have beon one of the women.

Mr Myers resumed that he believed the defence system would strongthen tho parental control over the young. There was another outburst of dissent, and some vigorous "Noes." Mr Myers replied that the parental control was waning, and there wag nothing more calculated to strengthen it than the discipline the boys would learn in. tlip camps. . This evoked a frantic outburst and cries of conscript," etc. Undaunted, Mr. Myers started again. This was an ago of great armaments; the more they were prepared for war, the less likely they were to get it. It moans more war," the deputation contradicted. "A Prime Minister can betray his country," someone cried. Mr. Myers said he intended to carry out his duty. He declined to consider the dnfenoe question from the point of political expediency. Ho would not do that with any question. So far as he was concerned, in spite of threats of wiping out the Liberal Party and wiping out himself, the law would bo carried out. Th<-<deputation could put people in power to represent them, and tho Jaw would be altered.

Thero was another noisy demonstration though several of th f < leaders called tor silence, and appreciated the Minister s statement of the case. Mr. Myers appealed to the deputation not to be, obsessed with their own point of view. He hoped that they would never have a foreign foe here carrying out atrocities which he could not refer to in the presence of women. There was no such thing as conscription. |^It is conscription," came the reply. •-i ?? haT° made UP y°nr minds'" said Mr. Myers. "The training is to help our men to repel an invasion of our hearths and homes." ._ ' 'Rot," was the elegant interpolation by a woman with a strong voice. Mr Myers took exoeption to this interjection, and several members of the deputation .indicated their displeasure. Mr. Myers concluded the interview with a very definite statement. "So long as lam Defence Minister, and a member of Parliament, and consider that the Act is in the best interest of the community, I intend to support it " He regretted the display of feeiing, and advised the ladies to look on all sides of the question. "We have been reading the, military journals," one of them retorted Mrs. Well s thanked the Minister for receiving the deputation, and listening to their representations.