The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1908. NATIONAL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 178, 22 April 1908, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1908. NATIONAL SERVICE.

Not: muoli is heard iii Wellington of the National League of New Zealand, and many of our readers will probably be surprised at the statistical record of progress which is given in tha report presented to the conference of League delegates yesterday. So far as Auckland is concerned, the League appears to be a very live body, since that province furnishes, about twothirds of the 6600 members. Of. the remainder only some 850 are resident in the South Island. The objects of the League are so desirable upon tlie whole—we cannot give unreserved support to every item in the programme as adopted yesterday—that we' should be glad to see greater activity in 11 popularising the League, in the southern districts. It is possible nowadays to object to conscription without involving oneself in unfriendliness towards every movement for the recognition of proficiency in arms;as a national duty for all able-bodied young men. That duty is now fully recognised, small as is the proportion of young men who have given practical testimony of their belief, and every sound proposal for the encouragement of drill and marksmanship is assured beforehand of practically unanimous approval, There is no immediate occasion for • the rapid establishment in New' Zealand of a large force of trained militia, nor ig there much reality in the bogy of Asiatic Invasion which has. provoked so much excited writing a;nd wild talk in recent years. It is nevertheless as plain a duty of every civilised country to have an efficient system. of defence as to have an efficient code of laws. The Easter manoeuvres have shown that in the Volunteer force we ha,ve something like the proper quality of 'the defence necessary to secure the saiety of'the Dominion against the normal risks of aggression, but the quantity is, of course, admittedly (inadequate.

If the National League can become a feeder of the Volunteer system it will justify its existence, and it is mainly for its potentialities in this direction that it is worthy of support. Compulsory military service on the Continental plan is not only unnecessary in New Zealand, but has disadvantages which must bp given their due weight against its adoption save as a last resort when everything else has failed, "tot there is nothing to be said against.

the introduction of tlie right measure of compulsion at the right time. The Rational League wisely sets an easy limit to its demand for compulsion by asking only for the compulsory training of boys and young men up to tho age of 21 years. The nccessary training under such a scheme would hardly interfere at all with the civil industries of the country. iVothing but approval can be given to the League's advocacy of the establishment of rifle ranges'in every township, and Morris tube ranges in every school district, and the building up of a large reserve of small arms and ammunition. Less wise, and, indeed, quite questionable, is the proposal to make admission to the country as an assisted immigrant and ■ admission to the public service contingent on engagement to "fulfil special training conditions," but this is no more than a surface blemish upon a most admirable programme. Several of the speakers at yesterday's conference urged that the programme of the League should be made a test question at the Parliamentary elections. We hope that the League will not allow its enthusiasm to carry it to this undesirable length. The question of national defence must be kept entirely apart > from politics, for the moment the League becomes an force, that moment its aspirations will become confused with party issues, and its cause will suffer serious injury. What is required is an active propaganda for ->the education of public opinion and the conversion of sympathetic theory into energetic practice. Educate the. public, and t]ie politicians will become' converts as a matter of course. The conference now being held is a most gratifying sign of the existence of a.'healthy'.national spirit in the country, and the League well deserves the support due- tfl:-that kindr of patriotism which does not rest on spread-eagleism aiid bombast.