MATHIESON STREET MEN'S OWN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 13 April 1912, Page 8

MATHIESON STREET MEN'S OWN.

Tho opening social of the above was ,1-iekLi-n the Mathieson Strep: Church of Christ on Thursday evening, when there was a good attendance of friends present. An address on tho object of the Society was delivered by the president, -Mr, H. G instead. He extended a hearty welcome to all men of all shades of opinion'to associate themselves with this Society, which stands for the mutual improvement of men's knowledge of religious, social, moral, and political problems, During the evening refreshments were served by the young men. Following is the" programme rendered : Recitations by Messrs. H. Richards an;l H. Allan, readings by Messns. Purnell, Arthur, and Bell, solos by Miss E. Dunbar and Mr. S. <W. Arthur, duet (2) Misses Dunbar nnd Bowman. The So<:ietv will meet at 7-45 p.m. every Thursday.'

Tho usual monthly meeting of the D.C.T.IJ. was held yesterday-afternoon, in St. Paul's Hall, Mrs. Upton, .who.. has been appointed a vice-president, being in the chair. The report of the convention was read, and a vote of thanks was passed to the delegate for_ tho attention she gave to the business of the Union. Miss Tucker's resignation of her office art secretary was received with deep regret. }

It would be extremely absurd, remarks the "Melbourne Argus," to feel any violent agitation because tho Friends' Peace Committee in London, in order to prevent emigration to Australasia., hart taken upon itself the task of letting the British artisan know that tho Commonwealth and tho .Dominion have adopted compulsory .service as a measure of self-preservation. "It is true,'" the '"'Argus" continues, "that t'no committee's postcard is somewhat misleadingly worded ; it tells its readers, for in.'sbance, that our boys at the age of fourteen are ro practise rifle-shoot-ing, so as to be ready to kill their fellow-men.' ()t course this is literally accurate, for it is a, soldier's duty to bo ready to kill his fellow-men if tho need should arist.1; but it would havo been more accurate in spirit to say that our boys are to practise rifle-shooting so as to fit themselves to defend their country against foreign aggression. The statement, as it sands conveys the..impression that Australians and New Zealanders are an exceedingly savage people, who train their children to be aa brutal and bloody-minded as they are themselves; which is hardly a fair picture."