CONSCRIPTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11730, 21 June 1916, Page 5

CONSCRIPTION.

TO TOB EBITOB. Sir,—Mr AlperS is reported as having informed the Womenjs National Reserve that conscription is Socialism in the right sense. It will be time enough to discuss that matter after ho has worked for the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and oxchange. When this is accomplished in New Zealand other countries will follow suit, with the result that there will be justice within between nations, and conscription will then bo of the barbarous past. Mr Alpers also informed his charming audience that conscription in Denmark " was tho most democratic thing in the world, and so it could be m Now Zealand," but bo d'id not attempt to explain. Nor did ho that the land is much better administered in Denmark than in New Zealand. Among other things, Democracy stands for the liberty of the individual. Conscription is not democratic, because it destroys individual liberty and is a weapon which can be and has been used to defeat the ends of justice. The whole of Avar, and trade is undemocratic. The people have no voice in the foreign policy.'which is conducted in tho dark; they have no voice in declaring war, nor in the settlement of peace terms; and they will have no voice in the future trad'e of the Empire, which will be dictated bv the few.—T am, etc., * OFF WITH THE SHACKLES.