NEW DEFENCE SCHEME

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14052, 25 May 1911, Page 7

NEW DEFENCE SCHEME

A CLERGYMAN'S PROTEST.

(■FECXAI, TO "THE PRESS.")

DUNEDIN, May 24. The Rev. A. Cameron, speaking on military training at the Dunedin Presbytery last night, said that tho public were going to sow seeds of bitterness amongst their young people that would bring forth a plentiful harvest of sorrow in days to come. People of the Church that embarked upon this scheme were being- untrue to their trust. He proceeded to mention the purposes for which the Church was instituted. » A Member: Also patriotism.

The Rev. Mr Cameron replied that true patriotism was not jingoism. The whole movement was calculated to bring about in the community a war spirit that was fraught with all kinds of disaster ior thc community. They could not possibly have military training enforced without producing a-war spirit which would do more to alienate their young people from the true principles of Christianity than any other half-dozen things that could be thought of.

f'omo few days ago Mr W. H. Field, M.P. for Otalci, wrote to the Acting Minister of Defence (Hon. G. Fowlds), representing the fear on the part of dairy farmers that the operation of the compulsory training scheme might seriously interferi! with milking operations. Mr Field has since received an assurance from the Minister that the utmost care is to bo taken not to disturb or prejudice the arrangement, of dairy and other farmers, or, indeed, of ?niployers of labour generally.