TERRITORIAL TRAINING.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 192, 14 August 1919, Page 8

TERRITORIAL TRAINING.

THE TOXTR MONTHS' CAMP. MEETING IN OPPOSITION. SOME NOISY PASSAGES. An organised protest against the new territorial training scheme, including the proposed four months" training period, was made at a meeting held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night. The hall was practically filled. Mr. W. J. Holdsworth presided. The DeputyMayor (Mr. A. .1. Entrican) and Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of tiie Auckland Hospital Board, were present on the platform during the earlier part of the meeting. The audience showed mam- signs of sympathy with the object for which

the meeting w,is called, though some of the speakers had to meet a <rood many interjections from the back part of the hall. The one resolution placed before the meeting was carried on a show of hands, with only two dissentients

The chairman, wiio disclaimed any wish to pose as an expert in military matters, condemned the Government for rushing into a more drastic scheme oi universal military training at a time when iv, whole attention ought to be given to posi-war problems The League of Nations, he said, ought to be given a fair trial, and every attempt sueii as this, to perpetuate militarism ought to be comlemnd.

Mr. T. Bloodworth, president of ihe Federation ot Labour, traversed the arguments already put forward against the scheme, namely, that it would harm tiie morals of the trainees, xhat it would be tno expensive, and that the country would not be able to spare the time of its youth* for training in arms. Mr. Bioodwortii intimated that he was not convinced that tiie first argument was -ound, and said that if it could be eliown that a large defence force was absolutely necessary he would agree that financial and other difficulties must be overcome. However, he did not rely on such arguments as those he had outlined. He opposed the scheme because the continuance of militarism was g betrayal of the trusi uf tiie millions of men who gave their lives that militarism might cease. (Loud applause!. The speaker referred to condemnations of militarism by President Wilson and Mr. Lloyd Oeorge. ami said that He could sec no justification for a scheme which would increase New Zealand's 70.000 army by !),000 every year. New Zealand would be making a very great mistake if she allowed .soldiers to dictate or suggest policies. The country should get back to the ideal laid before the voluntary recruits of four years ago—that the war was "to end

Mr. Oscar Moßrine opposed the scheme as infringing the rights of citizens. There was a danger, he said, of winning the war and losing our own liberty. History had completely disproved the truth of the old saying that preparation for war was a guarantee of peace. Such an interference with the life and activities of the individual was sure to meet with an increasing volume of passive resistance, and might eventually lead to a disruption tending to something like civil war.

Rev. H. Knowies Kempton moved the folio win" resolution:—"ln the interests of morality, of New Zealand's industry, and the world peace, this public meeting of citizens of Auckland declarer its emphatic antagonism to any extension of territorial training, and especially to the proposal for a prolonged c-anip or barrack period. In ca.se the proposal is supported by tiie government, this meeting recommends that steps be taken to inform the British Press of this attempt to, enslave tlte people of Xew Zealand." !

-Mr. Kempton said that he opposed the scheme because it v.as preposteious and exceedingly inopportune. Britain's part in the war was justified, and now for the first rime in history war was held everywhere in universal condemnation. Universal military service was no longer needed, and was condemned by the greatest minds of to-day.

Tiie motion was seconded by Mr. M. C. Irvine, and supported by Messrs. .1. ■li. Robertson and V- Nugent.

A returned soldier in tlie audience moved a friendly amendment, pledging ihe meeting to organise opposition to the scheme, and to "smash the public life of the men who are trying to introduce it." This was accepted, in substance, as an addition to the motion.

Mr. A. (". A. Sexton, a returned officer, amidst a good deal oi interruption, criticised the arguments used by several of the speakers as being, in his opinion, inconsistent. He condemned voluntaryism as tending to ~ P nd the flower of the country's manhood away, to be killed "Sgiiting for the cowards and shirkers" who would not go till they were forced. C'Boo-hoos"' and uproar)". He claimed that the whole of the country's manhood ovght to be trained for its defence.

Tae motion was carried, the dissentients (two in number) being hooted by a section oi the audience.