NO STANDING ARMY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 191, 13 August 1919, Page 9

NO STANDING ARMY.

CONSCRIPTION CRITICISED. NOT SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS. Sir Joseph Ward, interviewed last week by a New Zealand "Times" representative, entered somewhat more fully, especially in regard to the position in New Zealand, into his views on the question of conscription. After speaking of tho terms of the Peace Treaty touching the German army, and the effects of this iv other countries, Sir Joseph Ward said it was not neees-ary to say that the British people—that was to say, the people ol Great Britain and Ireland—had never been friends of conscription. Nor had any of the Overseas Dominions. These Dominions, until comparatively recent years, had not thought it necessary to train their youths in conscript armies. Such armies .lid not suit the views and aspirations of the people of these young and growing countries. The Americans had already decided that not more than ."iOO.OOO men were to remain attached to the internal defence forces of the United States. That was to say, a

country of 110,000.000 people had decided not to arm more than half a million mon. Such an army would not require anything in the shape of conscription. Therefore, with the exception of Japan, there was to-day practically no great Power in favour 01 conscription. "In Now Zealand,"' Sir Joseph Ward continued, "I am quite satisfied that conscription is not necessary, and it should not be continued excepting to the extent that is needed to enable tbe youth of the country to fight for the freedom of the masses of the people, throughout the British Empire. Only to that extent is there justification for its continuance. In saying that I must add that 1 am quite satisfied that there is need lor training tho youths of the country and passing them on to re. serves, without anything in the shape of a standing army or the nucleus of a standing army being necessary. I have not seen nor read I he added) anything of what has transpired hero with reference to the future policy of this country in that respect; but my own view is that we do not require to continue anything in the nature of the nucleus ot a standing army. The training of our youth to be efTective for the defence ot their hearths and homes is quite a different matter from anything approaching to the maintenance of a standing army.''