MR JAMES ALLEN ON DEFENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7825, 18 June 1909, Page 1

MR JAMES ALLEN ON DEFENCE.

COMPULSORY TRAINING

"When the Finance Bill, was before ] the House of Representatives oh Tues^ day (says the Evening Post of June 16) Mr James Allen (Bruce) discarded his usual role of financial critic, 'and explained to members a defence scheme which he has evolved with the help-of. Mr R. H. Rhodes and Mr F. M. B. Fisher. '' ._.■■' "After mentioning that Sir Joseph "Ward had agreed to give Mr Maßsey: an opportunity to' move a motion on the question of compulsory military training, he said he was glad an opportunity was to be. given to test the question. Personally, he hoped an almost unanimous vote m favour of universal training would be passed. The scheme :he "would Iput; forward-.was def signed to put the defences of this country on a sound basis-at-a reasonable' cost. He had examined for himself the whole' of' the systems m all countries where compulsory training obtained. His examination led him to the belief that the soldier trained m, Germany could not be compared with'the men trained m Switzerland. The officers were better.'; He had also, examined the Canadian system,: and was forced to the conclusion that --it was unsatisfactory. The men required .to go into training under the Canadian 5 system were selected by ballot, and consequently the best-men were frequently passed over. Then he had examined the Norwegian system, which m a measure approached the Swiss system. The latter system he had carefully studied. He had; tried to" understand; it,:. and arrived at the conclusion that there was nothing better for New Zealand-. "What were the arguments m favour of it, not from the point of view of the efficiency-of the scheme, but from the point of view of the nation itself? :.-.,.,.■ INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS. 1 It did riot interfere with employment —on the contrary, owing to the training the men received they became more efficient m their every day .work than they otherwise would. To bear out this statement, he had particulars relating to different factories and. ?wprks, but the time at his disposal would not perimit him to, put the facts before members. In both physique and morale, the training imparted improved the men. The Swiss "system was the" very amithesis of conscription. It was formed and carried out by the free will of^the people. It had been said that. there was sulky service m Switzerland, ;but the same would' apply" to a certain-ex-tent m every service. As.one writer put it, "it is a free.'manV right;and honour to serve his. country," The Swiss system improved citizenship. In the scheme he wished to lay before the House if was proposed that training should be commenced at the very earliest stage. Physical training should, be put m hand at the primary schools, and m addition gymnastics: and. squad? Ron drill. Miniature rifle ranges should be established, and the duties connected with ; training ■, should_ge made' part of the school, course,,;: TJie teacher should be the -school teacher,, and every school teacher should be able, to efficiently discharge the "duties. Only a small alteration in ,the regulations would be required, .to meet; tte case. If this could not be provided for, ■ peripatetic teachers, or non-com-missioned officers could be employed to do the work. LEAVING THE PRIMARY . ■ - • v -.::.-.'-—SGHpOI*S J> -:;y .;■■ jV.-.!^ }\ As soon as a boy left the "primary schools (after having received such a course"of * training as ?that;outlined), they proposed'that, hel should not be lost to the volunteers. Mr Allen went on to explain at some length that after a boy passed the cadet stage he should continue" :: physical, musketry,; and squadron drill—in other words, he suggested that every male from the age of sixteen years till he reached forty should spend 6even days per year m camp. Permanent camp grounds and barracks should be established, and grounds • would have to be secured; for manoeuvres. The instruction could be given by permanent officers,' but the inspection should be under the Defence Department. From eighteen to twentyone years every man who was physir cally fit should-go through; a-course of training that would make him a thoroughly efficient defence unit. He contended that everybody could give one half-day per month, - one evening per week, and seven days m camp per year—the latter either continuously or broken. Battalion forces would be organised and officers trained. : For the second line it was proposed that those between twenty-one- and thirty years of age, m order to keep ;up to standard, should put, m six .'whole days m.'the field per .year.: •' For the third line, after a man had iattained thirty years of age'} it was to keep him. m a state ot training till he reached forty-eight years. ■ ■ i TRANSPORT SERVICES. : i In relation to, transport,.he suggested that arrangements should be made with those ;who were prepared '/to i supply horses, and these people should, be paid a retaining .fee,- for: - : keeping- Jbheir horses; at the disposal of the Defence Department: . , ; . „- ■/._ .. •-.;.-, ■ f As to the cost. He calculated that there are 72,000 boys m New Zealand | between the ages of five: ahdo thirteen: years. Supposing that;7_B per:;cen:E.. .of these were Qaipabje ; of being itrainedan the first stage, and the cost; was'.calcu;lated at 10s,per head the actual outlay would be £27,000. Of those between thirteen and eighteen, years, he calculated there were '43,000, and' it 75 per cent, of these were capable of being trained (at £1 per head) the; cost would be £33,000. He added £10,000 for departmental offices. The permanent force at present cost the country £60,000 per annum. From eighteen to twenty-one years there were 27,p00, and, calculating 75 per cent, available for training at £2 per head, the cost 1 would be £40,000. . He concluded by stating that the cost of the scheme would be £387,100 a year without pay, and £424;200 with pay. He urged that provision should be made for the support of those- who; were" indigent.; He had, he added, had the advice of an expert m this matter, and his estimate came within £30,000 of the aboye figures. By the twelfth year they would have a force, of 82,000 men, with barracks and field training grounds,- and New Zealand would be m a; position to repel any invading force that might come along,