DEFENCE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19972, 5 July 1930, Page 20

DEFENCE.

COMPULSORY TRAINING. bbtbntion advocated. [THE PREBS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, July 4. The retention of the compulsory military service system was urged by Mr F. Waite (11., Clut.hn), when speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Labour interjectora combated uome of the views of Mr Waite, and the interruptions became so frequent at one Stage that Mr Speaker threatened to name a member. Mr Waito claimed that he was speaking on behalf of the majority of tho officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, who were in the Territorial Force at the present time, when he Baid that New Zealand should have an adequate defence system. He asked members of the House if they thought that any defence system was necessary iu New Zealand. Even those who were calling lor tho abolition of the compulsory system readily admitted that something should be put m its to the deputations which waited on the Prime Minister yesterday Mr Waite said it had been stated that compulsory service was repugnant to the ideals of the League of Nations, but the fact was that the first paragraph of Article VITI of the League of Nations' Covenant specially provided for adequate national defence. It was a sipr»' ficant fnct tl,at most of tho principal signatories to tho Covenant had compulsion. In France service in the army or navy was commilsory, and the same implied in Italy Europe to-dav was bristling with bavonels. Japan hnd compulsorv service, and to his friends in the Labour Party he would point nut that the Red Armv of Russia was hnsed on oomnulsion. Mr F. Lnn"stone (Lab., Waimarino): Vou ouirlit to be able to get a job there. (Laughter \ Mr Waite: The honourable gentleman is far happier in New Zealand. He likes to talk about Russia, but he won't go and live there. One of the greatest menaces to the pe&ce of the world to-dav is the Red Army of Russia. Why do members of this House come here and say that compulsory service is opposed to the principles of the League of Nations? I say they are misrepresenting the position Every nation with tho exception of Great Britain has increased its armaments since the signing of the Kellogg J. O'Brien (Lab., Westland): Do you want another warP Mr Waite: I know you wont go tQ it if there is one. You will stay at home like you did last time. Mr Langstone: And show good Bensc, tOO - * «.• Mr Waito: When members of this House say that a compulsorily recruited force in New Zealand is a menace to the peaee of the world they are endeavouring to humbug the people, and aro grossly misrepresenting the position. Mr Waite said apparently they had the United Party and the Labour Party in the same camp on the question, of military defence. Those members who did not agree with that statement had half an hour in which to get up and oxplain their attitude. All that Bome members of the Labour Party knew about war was what they had read in certain b6oks. The Prime Minister had not made any definite pronouncement regarding his intentions, but it was fairly evident that there was to be an overhaul. It was said there would be a reversion to the volunteer system, and, after all, that would he in accordance with the rules that had been laid down by tfte Labour Party. The Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. ?. A. de la Perrell*?): That is rot. Mr Waite: Exactly, it is rot. Mr Parry: You are a good judge of that. ' Interjections beiamjo frequent at this Btage, and Mr Speaker found it necessary to issue a warning that he would name members if they persisted in interjecting. Mr Waite said he had always agreed that alterations could be made in tho defence system and economies exacted, but should those economies be made in a panic year, in a year of financial depression! If they cut down the defence system to the extent that was now proposed they would not get value for the money they expended. Tho whole thing would bo a wasted effort. Training in camps was of real value. He would like to know what the Imperial Defence Committee expected New Zealand to do. The Minister for Defence should take the House tfnd the people into his confidence, and he did not believe there would be the slightest objection on the part of the taxpayer to meeting the bill. The taxpayer would find the money and the trainee would know what it was all about. | Mr W*alte concluded by suggesting that the Government could cut out the camps this' year, cut out the night parades for. cadets,, and cut out the grants to rifle clubs, in the meantime secure the services o'f a committee of experts to go into the whole question of the reorganisation of the forces. An expert could he secured from Home, and he could have associated with him two experienced New Zealanders.

COMPULSORY CLAUSES.

ABOLITION OPPOSED. [THE PBESB Special Service.] WELLINGTON, July 4. A Punedin remit: "That this Federation is opposed to any suggestion of abolishing military training in the Dominion," led to a discussion at the conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation to-day. The view was expressed that some form of compulsory training was essential, and a resolution setting out the

willingness of manufacturers throughout New Zealand to continue to afford facilities for tho necessary instruction was carried unanimously. Mr W. G. Kindley (Dunedin), in moving the adoption of the remit, said his Association considered that it would bo in the best interests of the country to carry on with compulsory training with perhaps certain modifications to the present system. The idea in some, minds, said Mr W. Reid (Dunedin), was that if compulsory training wore abolished, the old volunteer system would be reverted to. It was felt that it was very desirable to have some form of compulsory training. Undoubtedly a great many people felt that under the present system there was a good deal of wasted time, but that was a fault which could be eliminated. Mr G. Mills-Palmer (Auckland) quo, B ' tioned whether it really came within the scope of the conference to nounce an opinion on the matter. The opinion was expressed by Mr J. Findlay (Auckland) that it would be better to drop the matter altogether. It might antagonise Labour at a time when its co-operation was needed. Mr J. T. Spears (Wellington) c ° n " sidered that from tho viewpoint of discipline compulsory training was essential. The Defence Act was the most democratic measure on tho Statute Book, said Mr L. R. Partridge (Wellington). It ensured that everybody who had an interest in the country should be calle upon to defend that interest. It maao no distinction between tho wealthy an tho poor. .. The president (Mr G. Finn, Aucklan ) said ho was very much in favour o tho present system. He would rather see a million pounds taken off the education vote, and transferred to military training than have the present system cur» tailed or abolished. The training was ot"> thing that was never forgotten oy the young men of tho country, and it bad a wonderful effect on their futures, Mr J. Abel (Wellington) said he had been connected with the intfiwy fosces since the age of 16, and he pa had thousands of young men under flis control. In his opinion compulsory training was essential. The principal opposition to the present system cam from the Women'b Christian Temperance Union, who presumed to tell tne Government that the system was ineffi* cient. It was obviously a fallacy, ta attach any importance to such a sweeping condemnation. _ , On the motion of Mr Mills-Palmer *3® following resolution was substituted for the Dunedin remit, and carried: "That this Federation considers compulsory military training to be essential to the country and desires to put on record the willingness of manuf&Cr turers throughout New Zealand to continue their part in affording facilities for the necessary instruction."