MILITARY TRAINING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 73, 19 December 1907, Page 7

MILITARY TRAINING.

SPEECHES BY THE GOVERNOR AND ;,;:- ; v •.' ••/..... ADMIRAL. ;: (BT. TEIEGBAPH—FRES3. ASSOCIATION.) ':': '— Auckland, December 18. At.,the annual dinner of the Volunteer Officers' "Club, Lord Plunket, replying to the toast of. "The Governor," said he was very much in favour of encouraging military train-|Pe-..'.HQ was highly pleased with the keen-ness-displayed in the Rolunteer movement in New Zealand. Admiral Fawkes, replying to the toast of " The Navy and Army," referred at length to the dependency of the army and navy,upon each other. Colonel'Daries, In-spector-General of tho New Zealand Forces, dwelt'on the excellent work of tho Officers' Club. l Mr.'Justice Denniston proposed '"The National Defence League," and eulogised tho work of the League. : NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.' (BX ■ TELEGEiPn-SrECIAL COEEESPONDENT.) wl ""'■,, •, Auckland, December 18. The President of the National Defense League (Mr. W. B. Leyland) statos that he is. not surprised at the defence policy put forward by the Australian Government, as during a recont visit to the Commonwealth he'found that the people there were in real earnest in regard to defence, many of them feeling quite nervous as to their security. The platform of tho National Defence League of' Now Zealand, so far as he could gather ffpmiAhe meagre details sent, had practically been adopted by Mr. Deakin. Hβ did not think that thev would (in dmuch difficulty in working it in Australia, because it would not interfere with the youths very much educationally, as they could continue it or not as they liked after reaching the age of twentyono. At tho same time, however, when tho day came they could be "licked into shape." With reference to the question of cost, Mr. Deakin's estimate 'of £250,0000 per annum seemed a moderate one—in fact, so moderate that if the scheme were carried out upon tho samo scale in New Zealand according to population, 5 it-would mean that the bill to U3 would.only be about one-fifth,of tho Commonwealth's, which could not causo alarm. "But even," declared Mr. Leyland, "if it cost Very much more, we have no' right to hesitate oh that score, especially when wo look at it-from the standpoint of an insurance premium, and. remember the amount already paid for accidents, fire, and other risks, and then remember the amounts spent in-gambling and liquor and other luxuries. Why, we ought to be ashamed to talk about oost. ;, People who speak of it cannot havn given the matter any. thought." Mr. Leyland added that branches of the Loaguo were being' rapidly formed throughout the Dominion, and when the next election camo round they intended to turn into active organisations, so that the question of national defence could be brought prominently before tho public, and every candidate asked whether he supported univorsal training. . •■