MILITARY SERVICE BILL

West Coast Times, 20 June 1916, Page 2

MILITARY SERVICE BILL

THREAT FROM THE FLAXMILL HANDS. IF MILITARY SERVICE BILL EN-' FORCED. | THE PREMIER’S REPLY. j 1 By Telegraph.—Per Press Association j WELLINGTON, June 19, 1 During last week the Hon Mr. Massey received a letter from tho Secret-' ary of the Manawatvi Flax mills’ Emplaces Union forwarding a copy of a resolution objecting to 'ihc Military Service Dill, and theatening to strike if tin; Rill was enforced. j In reply Mr. Massey lias sent the following letter;—“ Sir, I am in receipt of your letter oi loth June covering copy of resolutions said to have been carried unanimously at a large mass meeting of mouthers of your union held at Palmerston North on Saturday last. Permit me to remind yon and through your tnemhera your Union, that the first duty of the Government is to preserve law and order and maintain constitutional authority in this country, and that it is hound Anther to protect and defend the nation against its enemies both from without and within. In passing the .Military Service Rill the National Government has considered first, (as was its Ijonnden duty) public safety, with which the welfare of tho community is inseparably associated. Yon may rest assured that when it. reaches >the Statute Rook, as it will do in a few days, it will he administered by the Government with the strictest impartiality, without fear nr favour, and in the best interests of tho nation from which f hope the members of your union do not wish to dissociate themselves. 1 note that your Ist resolution claims that the meeting of flaxworkers, at which it was carried, having carefully considered the Conscription Rill in detail, now before the Legislature and its passage through house is of unanimous opinion that it is not a military necessity etc., From my personal knowledge of the affairs of this country, extending for a period of twenty-two years, during which I have been continuously a Member of the House rtf Representatives, I am satisfied that no measure that has ever come before Parliament has received more careful consideration, first at the hands of the Cabinet, and then in Parliament than this Military Service Rill which yon condemn in sweeping terms. I am further satisfied that the country as a whole is solidly with tho Government in the steps it is taking to preserve the safety of the nation, and to help the Empire in its grave hour of peril, and that in execution of that supreme duty it wil'he fully supported by public opinion.