"MAKE IT VOLUNTARY."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 164, 13 July 1929, Page 12

"MAKE IT VOLUNTARY."

[MILITARY TRAINING SYSTEM.

VIEWS OF AN EXPERT,

COMPULSORY PHYSICAL WORK.

The suggestion that military training Jn New Zealand should revert to a voluntary system, and that the compulsory physical training of youth should become a function of the Department of Health was made in the course of an interview to-day by Mr. J. - , Rogers, physical director of the Auckland Y.M.C.A. Mr. Rogers is well fitted to give an informed opinion under both headings of training. A member of the original physical training staff under the scheme of compulsory training in Australia, he was on the Commonwealth permanent staff from 1911 to 1922, when he retired with the rank of major. During the war he was director of important train-: wg camps in England and France. I have followed with interest the numerous attempts by correspondents in the newspapers to justify the defiance of the laws governing compulsory military training, said Mr. Rogers. "Some have suggested alternative training for genuine conscientious objectors, who do not believe in preparation of any kind to defend their country, whether they are called upon to kill or not. "I would not like to think that all Presbyterians, or non-conformists were of this frame of mind, but I believe that all denominations would welcome the abolition of military training under the present system. The amount of really useful military knowledge absorbed by the average trainee or cadet is insignificant, and, even if our young men knew every training manual from cover to cover, and were not physically fit, they would be useless in the field on active Service."

Speaking as one who had been behind the scenes in war time, and with years of experience in training under conditions of peace, Mr. Rogers said he was convinced that far more good would be achieved by making military training voluntary and physical training compulsory. "In my opinion," he added, "the military staff should be maintained as a nucleus for our defence army to train a highly-efficient volunteer army, paying more attention to th® advanced training

of officers and N.C.O.'s. There should be more staff rides and practical studies in the field by N.C.O.'s as well as by senior and junior officers. It was officers of the old volunteer system-, who • made the name of Anzac. Such men as Monach, Russell,, Courtney, and others, who made the study of military > training 1 a hobby, and when the time came for action, they were able to take command.

''Under compulsory physical training, men would not only be prepared- to be fit soldiers, but we would benefit from the system nationally. We would improve our standard of living, and < both the manual worker and the professional man would, be a better asset to the Dominion. There could be no conscientious objectors against such a system; "Good Troops, Too." "With,,ft trained staff, efficient volunteer dfficers and N.C.O.'s, it is possible to prepare and'train fitj men to take their place in ,the, field in 10 .or 12 weeks. I have seen this done on numerous occasions during the war, and good troops they were too. "This does not refer to technical units such as artillery, engineers, etc., for it will always be posible to keep, up an establishment in such units because the work is educational and interesting. i

"The infantry is quite another matter, and as infantry comprises the bulk of the trainees, we could well rely on the volunteers for our skeleton army, and put the remainder under a system of compulsory national physical training. "If one studies those nations which have national physical training it will be realised that they are the most peaceloving nations in the world, and largely free from internal strife. After giving the matter careful thought, I am certain that a system' such as I have outlined would mean that we would ensure the development of finer mental and physical qualities for the defence Of this favoured Dominion."