THE DEFENCE ACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 28 February 1914, Page 4

THE DEFENCE ACT.

The statements made by Sir Josej?h Ward at Dunedin in regard to the Defence Act unfortunate. Indeed, they were entirely uncalled for. Sir Joseph said lie. was against tlie imprisonment of young' fellows who were being fined' under the internal defence system. He must have known, when he made this statement, that the only provision for imprisonment was contained in the law which he himself placed upon the Statute Book. He mus? also have knojvn that, since the present Government came to office, imprisonment in default of the payment of fines .lias been- abandoned In favour of military detention. Why, then, did he make the statement? Was it not to throw dust in the eyes of the, electors, and to endeavour' to curry favour with the anti-militarist element? His statement that he was ' 'strongly against expeditionary. forces to any other , portion of the Empire unless by voluntary act" was a gratuitous piece of political Bltiff. He knew, when he made that statement, that the proposal of the Minister, of Defence to institute an expeditionary force was purely on voluntary lines. Why, then, did he make reference to i this subject ? Was it not another attempt to deceive the electors, andto create a prejudice against the. Government? If Sir Joseph desires to rehabilitate himself with the people, he will require to be a little fairer than hajhas been in his references to the defence system.