On Tuesday the Congress passed a resolution against National Service.
The resolution, which was moved by Mr. Seddon on behalf of the Parliamentary Committee, expressed the belief that the voluntary system would secure
all the men required, and protested against the " sieister efforts of a section of the reactionary Press" to introduce "conscription; which "always proves a burden to the workers, and will divide' the nation at. a time when unanimity is essential." Once again we see the curious phenomenon of men being more ready to hate and denounce individuals than to consider the worth of the cause for which those individuals stand, We have frankly admitted that we wished the present revival of the demand for National Service had had other authorship. But the cause should be judged on its merits, and it is pure weakness to condemn it for no better reason than that Lord Northcliffe is said to be " running " it. If compulsion is necessary for the country we must have it even if ten thousand Lord Northelilres should gain gratification thereby.
Previous page
