DOMINION DEFENCE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 282, 2 June 1909, Page 4

DOMINION DEFENCE.

Judging by the favorable reception accorded in .all parts of the dominion to Mr McNab's proposals for an universal system of military training, it is difficult to understand how the Premier ca.n justify his statement that the weight of public opinion is against it. In his self-imposed mission, Mr McNab has been most warmly received, and his arguments have been closely followed by largo . audiences. In almost every case resolutions amounting to votes of confidence have "been passed, in several instances amidst a display of enthusiasm that . must have proved most encouraging Ito the speaker. When Mr McNab has concluded his task of stumping the country on behalf of his scheme, there will be little indeed left to show that the majority of the peoplo are opposed to the views ho holds. .The meeting held at Dannevirke on Monday evening 1 last was no exception to "the goneral experience. The large audience was entirely with the speaker from the beginning. The value of the various weighty arguments adduced by Mr McNab was keenly appreciated, and not a dissmir tient voice was heard.!. The speaker made it perfectly clear that he had no fault to find with the volunteers, but ho had no, difficulty in showing that the system had been found -wanting, and that any attempt to improve it was necessarily doomed to failure. It may bo claimed that Mr McNab's meetings have proved that the people recognise there must be a change, and that tiiat change must.be in the direction of universal training. It may bo that the wisdom of some of the details of tlio proposals outlined by Mr McNab aro open to argument, but there can be no doubt that the broad principle sit stake is admitted by a very largo majority of thinking people. The development of the details will necessarily require much thought, so that the system, when introduced, may not be made unduly oppressive or harassing There is a very wide difference, as the speaker explained, between compulsory service _in war and universal military training. Those who oppose Mr McNab's views make all tlio use they can of the allegedly "compulsory"'' I element. But this is unfair, because compulsion is not asked for. It is insisted, however, that a military ti-ainingof the youth of thedominion is an actual necessity if the people are to be in -a position to hold the

country against the foreign invader. The time, is -undoubtedly ripe for the introduction of a change in the direction indicated by Mr McNab. A huge sum is now annually spent upon a system of volunteering that is admittedly non-successful; and it is for those who insist upon advocating its continuance to show why it should not be abandoned in favor of a system that promises something more useful and tangible in return. The position is now such that if the Government chose to give a lead on this important question, universal training might be possible within six months. There is no question of party politics in this matter. Some of the- leading members of the Opposition are amongst the- most pronounced supporters of Mr MeNkb's proposals.