OUR DUTY IN DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 3, 28 September 1907, Page 6

OUR DUTY IN DEFENCE

The published report that the Government were considering a step of such grave moment as the calling out of the_ militia has caused some uneasiness in the public mind, and we are glad that the Premier lias made a ' definite statement respecting the intentions of-the Council of Defence, or, rather, a statement of what the Council does not intend. Although the' report referred to did not say with precision that the militia would he called out, its avoidance of definiteness was of a kind to encourage the suspicion that something was " up." But, _ the Premier has now explained, 'nothing has been authorised, nothing has been decided upon by the Defence Council, nothing has even been suggested, beyond the preparation of the militia rolls according to the 1900 Act. This sufficiently disposes of the rumour, and we are glad of it. The preparation of the rolls might, of course, import a further movement without prejudicing the accuracy of the Premier's statement, but there is no occasion Tor (.'uess or speculation alone' such a lino. The oeotisioii is. never! Itoloss, a _ fit otic IW ,<i!fi'j<T.sli7)g caution, in i'ue public view ' of our defences. The While New Zealand policy has lie en profit! ii'-.U'd in the In si year Di- two vriili :'. persistence Midi, ;;!I:m- fpiickiy solidifyiiitf public, i.pinion .011 Hie subject, litis set.

people thinking of the natural corollary to that policy—namely, the securing of a really efficient defence system. And no doubt the Government, if it pronounced to-morrow for the calling out of the militia, would find a good many people ready, with enthusiastic plaudits. But.before conscription is invoked in the name of efficiency, the Government must show that the volunteer system is exhausted. We say that it is not exhausted;. and for proof we bring forward the fact that it continues to exist in spite of a Departmental dulness and want of sympathy that would have chilled and killed any other movement long ago. Let the Government compile the militia rolls by all.means; but let the public put aside all fancy notions of universal service until the Defence Department . has tried the novel experiment of keenness and sympathy on the volunteers, and found it barren of results. ':'■■■■■■■'■'