NATIONAL LEAGUE OF NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13097, 23 April 1908, Page 8

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF NEW ZEALAND.

THE FIRST CONFERENCE.

(PKESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, April 21. The first conference of the National league of New Zealand opened hero co-day. Tho delegates are: The Hon. i" W. Hislop (Mayor of Wellington), Jvlr J. P. Firth (Wellington), Mr John /awcus. Mr C. P. Muribt-h; Mr J. Aooller. Mr A. Hcsking and Mr R.

i. Haeke-t (Auckland), Mr F. G. Xiogsey (Wainui), Dr. Mountains v..Laungaturoto), Lieut.-Colonel Goring .Whan&ariM), Mr J. It. Orerar (Nai'licr), Mr H. M. Bs-dington and Mr 1-1 C. Robinson (Masterton), Mr J. H. liscobt (W'ocdville), Captain McXaught .Wanganui), Captain Uarltrop (Feildbxz), Sergeant Bond (Eltbamj, Ma- J. J."\V. Dalryraple (Wellington), Mr H. F. Solomon (Cartcrton).

Mr J P. Firth was elected , chairman and Mr U. M. Hacketsocreuuy. The report of the executive- stateu that the League was started in Auckland iv August, IUOo, to advocate the training of the youth of the Dominion for detcuco purposes. Alter twenty months tho executive was satisfied tho public tone on the matter was healthy. Tlhj League has 6-0-3 individual mcm r bora and ICO donors, making a toUl oi 6600. Ot these, 4149 are in tho Aucldand province, 18U2 iv Wellington province, 382 in Taranaki, 358 in Hawke's Bay, 298 in Canterbury, 1«8 iv Wostland, IS-5 in Otago and 183 in Nelson and Alarlborough. Tharo are fifty-six branches in "various parts of the Dominion. Tho treasurer has received in subscriptions £863 7s and ii, membership subscriptions £353 9s, a total of £1221 10s. Tho executive has made three efforts by the employment of paid organisers to spread the movement throughout the .Dominion. Several of the League's branches bad devoted attention to the encouragement ot rifle shooting, and .had established miniature ranges, while medals for marksmanship had been, provided out of a special fund collected in Auckland for the purpose. In May hist deputations from tho General Council of the League waited on the Minister for Education ami the Minister of Defence, and urged Government assistance in the establishment of miniature ranges. Subsequently the lixLucation Department issued a circular offering a subsidy of £ for £ for the establishment of miniature ranges a-t pubhc schools, but applications i'or the subsidy tad been declined on the ground that tho Department was considering the matter with a view to having a universal system of outdoor ranges es tablished- at the schools.

Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion. A resolution was carried l warmJy commending tlie Auckland executive for its work.

It was resolved that there be established District Councils at Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Wellingbooi. Nelson, Blenheim, Hokitikaj Christchurch, Wanganui, Dunedin ana Invercargill, tbo territorial limits of the District Council to bo defined and from time to time varied , by the General Council.

it was proposed that the objects of the League be defined' as follows:—To ensure domestic peace and security from all possible invasion, by obtaining the national adoption of the following safeguards:—Universal defensive training, either ashore or afloat, of all boys and 3'oung men until the ago of 21, with encouragement of continued training; all men engaged in every branch of the local maritime and' watersido industries to be licensed; preference in ail State employment and licensed occupation, to British citizens who fulfil special training conditions; rifle ranges to be provided in every township and jDorris-tuibe ranges in every urbaa and sub-urban school district; sufficient rifles ix- •b© kept in the country to arm every capable citizen, and sufficient ammunition in suitable centres to make all riflemon effective for defence; and any other legitimate means for furthering these objects and for organisation.

The annual subscription was fixed at Is. The Council is to arrange for the |freo delivery to subscribers of the monthly journal "Defence."

It was decided that the head office of the League be at Auckland. It was decided to ask the Minister of Defence to address the League.

April 22. This morniJig the conference of delegates representing the branches which form the National Defence League of New Zealand continued its sittings at Wellington, Captaini Murdoch presidrn«.

It was resolved that the w!hc4e of the present officers and general council be retained dn office.

The next aarnuaJ conference is to be Itaefld at Wellington, .he date to be left to the exoeutivo.

It was moved by Mr Findlay: — "That with a view to make riflo shoothig a national object, this conference urges the Governmeinrt to issue rifles to members of riflo cinbs on the samo terms as to voJuTiibeerß." Tsie mover epake. of tho great need for hotter train ing of the masses β-nd the difficulty there was in becoming proficient in, the use of the rifle. l!ho present graait of 120 rounds of ammunition to effective riflemen wae afeurdly insufficient; 500. rounds wore necessary. Lieut.-OoWnel Gorton sp-oko of the need for ptroper orffa-Tuisation. of the people and the necessity floor proper training. It wae no use having rifle clubs throughout New Zealand unfcss they were under a.n> OTganisatiom., and at present they had neme. If compulsory military trainin« was insisted npo-n, the result would bo tiha.t tlhere would be on* hug© rifle club for the ■whole of the colon v.

Captain McXaugh-t believed tiha-t t.he n,~w regulations alx>ut to bo brought in would be of a nature tihiat would « goo<l for tho and the ratepavor, o,nd yet bo of benefit to tibo rifl-o clubs.

The motion was lest

•Mr Wool'er moved:—"That the Govommerrt be aekrd to include rdflediooting in the svlJa.bus for the munual training cke?«> in the public schools." It was, he sn.id, tho first duty of every cit-iV/m to defend lii-s hearth and home, and tho way to give* the c-ipncity was by c-nsuriTig pffi?votivo training for alii. Captain McXaupihfc roccmdfd the moticn. Ho was sorry t/> hmvr tlwt in some ca.vs now the schooij teachers simply lia-nd-rd th-o boys iiheir rifles and a.rnrmin<it.mn arid lot them fire it ewav without instruction.

Mr # Kinsey. cf "W.-'imii., rnrroTkrd filii-t- in'-t-THCtioi in nlrMdv in-r«liidc-fl in the svJb.bus s'i'.iorjl in lire dUtrict. He would !nke t<o p-m> thr- rnotnn ame'ul'xl , h- t.'ie addition of th>-> word?, "th.-t.t t.li« Govcnwiioivt bo asked to- prr-rHe training instrrnc<r- : <xn for ill srh'K>L>.** . °

Mt E?cot.t e.-\fd tV p-sOiabi"; ttbs nT-remdT overlootlod. ncul t>» sho»rVT he <*hn.ry cf pf>s?"ri2 ihf motion. Ma.rt-r obirct-wl to girine miHfirv tuition. a.nd C3.u!ii not- give it if 'hoy wmr?d.

Th>n TTif»*,y>n, tws cirrTfxl. nrrl it- mis resolved thai a depiita.VVri of d-<>!e----pv+jc*s wnit upon iho Minister and urpf? thfc rr.fMfr npec* him.

At a Knnqnft Tidd to-mVM in *>otinoction with thc» CTnfTAncs, the Hon. "R. McXnb, Aetine-M.in«t«'r of D<*fence, said it was not thn. G<n-(Tnrp«nt's policy to have eomptil-sory iraJitflxy training, bnt no ad'minirfcration shonW put any kirrier in the way of nn orfranisation which desired to persuade the por«pki that some system of ompuJsrrry inilitarv training should bo institute. New Zealajnd was perhaps not so far from tho new* theatres of war a-s people imagined, and this ''■■"Vy'r . , • ■ * ' "

was an important matter. "Whether for external or internal defence, it vras the first dnty of tlie catisen vo qualify himself so that ho would, be ready when, tho Empire called. Colonel -Robin, first military member of the Council of Defence, said that hi- was β-ul to see that while educating the people on defence matters, ih«' lvwiiiue had said nothing derogatory of the present system. He- a<?vcd as *to the necessity of hringinsi th; youth of the country "P t<> miiitnxy erTieiwicy. and of inculcating a spin: of patriotism.