THE DEFENCE SYSTEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3317, 8 September 1911, Page 5

THE DEFENCE SYSTEM.

“INFAMOUS AND FOOLISH BUSINESS.”

■ \ ROWDYISM AT AUCKLAND.

GATHERING OF “CONSCIENTIOUS” OBJECTORS.

4 I SPECIAL TO TIMES J AUCKLAND, Sept. 7. In response to the 'call from the A nti-Militarist Council, a great number congregated at the Federal 'Hall last evening, when the compulsory clauses in the new Defence Act are argued against at great length. The meeting for the. most part was composed of conscientious objectors to military training, but there were a. good number at the 'back of the hall who were a disturbing element, and at times the meeting got- out of. hand, especially towards tire close.

The first speaker was the Rev. M. Hail, Unitarian minister, who advanced the ground that economic law governed and not the mailed fist. The peace of the world was beiavr held, he contended, by the economic conditions prevailing, and this naturally affected the colonies who -were only holding on to the Empire because they, wanted to, and not because the. British' navy could hold New. Zealand is she wanted to get away. He appealed dramatically d that was not so, and the- question wa* greeted with loud cri-es of “Yes. yes.” Mr. E. Wright, of the Society o Friends, in opposing the system of rnili tary training inaugurated, said that i was analogous to conscription. , It ha< taken lads morally pure from thei homes and returned them eaten np u. vice. There- was a. lot of moral tal being advanced in regard to co-mpu. sory training, but he- contended it wa absolutely immoral. Concluding, Mi Wright asked, “How much longer ai we to he postered with foolish rcmaPland speeches in order to bolster up a infamous and foolish business.” The remarks were greeted with show of dissent, which were increased as tl speaker remarked that they must, aspeople, -get together and make the- G voimment repeal the compulsory clause The uproar was very had,, the cri of “Yes, yes” being drowned by otbe of “No, never.” Towards ten o’clock a motion w moved as follows: — “That this meeting emphatically pretests against the r r —\ clauses in' the Defence Act, and demands tlieir immediate repeal.” A Socialist member of the audieu moved as an amendment: — “That this meeting declare itself in favour of the total abolition of all miltiary training.” Another member of the audience pr tested that this was only side-tracldr the issue. An uproar was caused by the mov< of the amendment demanding a wit] drawa-.l of the- word “side-tracking, and after about five minutes “barney ing.” in which the Socialist member r< fused to sit. down when ordered to d so by the chairman, quietness prey-aile long enough for the original motion t be carried. The meeting then be era n to disperse and someone raised the singing of th “National Anthem,” which, was cree-tei with marked disapproval bv a large sec tion. Most of the electric lights 11 the hall were switched off at this stage and the concourse found its way intc the street. The trouble bad not ended, however, and the cry from some yo-utli “Do we want to be soldiers” elicited the reply from a hand of four that they did. _ This started a. wordy warfare, which threatened all the way to Queen Street to break into a. free fight by the rival partisans. At the junction or thestreet, however, the sections drifted away in different directions and quietness once more prevailed.