MILITARY TRAINING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 483, 16 April 1909, Page 3

MILITARY TRAINING.

COMPULSORY SYSTEM AFFIRMED. BY THE CHAMBEES OF COMMERCE. . At the conference of delegates of Chambers of Commerce yesterday, Mr. H. Tolley (Feilding) moved the following resolution regarding colonial defence:—"That this conference urges the Government to give special attention to the home defence of the Dominion, and considers that the institution of a.system of compulsory military training is the fairest, most effioient, and economical means of. defence." How Large a Force is Needed? The'question of defence, he said, was now agitating all parts of the Empire. The other day the.conference passed a resolution approving of the recent, action of the Government in taking ' a decisive step towards the naval defence of the Empire/ It was hardly necessary that he should point out the disastrous effects of'iwar. to trade and commerce. In one sense, they must all be sorry to admit that our volunteer system had almost broken down. Compulsory : military training was fair, because it applied to all. It was efficient, because it ensured the largest possible number..of units. It was economical, because it would not bo a hardship to any, and it would be the cheapest possible service', to the State. Something like 5000 young men arrived per annum at the age of, 21 years in this - country. If the age was extended to 25 years we would in a few years have a defence force of about 25,000 men, which would act as a deterrent to any country conraid on this country. ; Mj.\ J. Heid (Blenheim) seconded the resolution. It should be compulsory on every boy to join a cadet corps," and go through a course of training in our. public or secondary schools. ; ' Swiss liSystem Advocated/ Mr.- J. E. Watson . (Invercargill) supported the resolution.: Every man should consider it a right and an honour to serve his country.. The shirking of that responsibility ought to be considered a disgrace. He referred to the Swiss system, and advocated the adoption of a system of training that involved a minimum of inconvenience to' employers. The time had now arrived when the Government should take this matter'into its immediate consideration. He- thought a system could be easily devised vfhichwould give much more adequate defence to the Dominion, and at a very slightly increased cost. Under any circumstances, .the country would get very much better return for its money than it got .under the present system. While recognising the enthusiasm of our'volunteers., he thought that the system was inherently wrong. Every young man should be compelled to do his duty in the defence of his country. ". ' ' : Mr. Graves Aickin (Auckland) expressed his sympathy with the resolution. ; ■'■.■■:' ! :..■':' An' Advocate of Cadet Camps. : .' Mr; Kettle'(Napier) advocated the compulsory military training of.our youth. He advocated a,6ystem of .cadet, camps being established. Such a system' of of our young men j.conld be adopted, as would .interfere very, little, if at all,' with.the work of the , merenntile community. Our boys were thirsting for compulsory military training.' If the Government saw its'way to- adopt such n system, there wouHl bo no. difficulty in giving effect to it. Of course, that would involve considerable expenditure in connection with an efficient' staff. Compulsory training did not mean conscription; ... ': . . w .. . . , Efffsiency of the. Volunteers Defended. ' Mr. -:Wi: G. Duthie; (president) denied that the volunteer force had almost broken down. The present volunteer force .in New. Zealand was a more efficient'force, than New Zealand had had since the departure of the Imperial troops. The work of the '.garrison-.and field artillery, had been most efficient. There might not be enough volunteers, but those' in the force were good men.' He spoke in complimentary terms of the -work of the Council of Defence. . ' The resolution was agreed to on'the voices. ■■': ; -.-■. V - ■ . ' • ' .■;■'■■ MEETING AT ."AUCKLAND.!-' , (BT TSUtOBAPH.—SPZCUL CORItItSrOHDJWT.) : Auckland, April 15. Speaking at the. National Defence League's meeting in support of the motion favouring a national system of defensive training, Mr, F. G. Ewington said it was the national dutj to relieve the Motherland of anxiety concerning ourselves, and to do this wo musi be prepared to stand or fall with her. The speaker'made strong references to incidents of the Maori war, in which he took a prominent part, and said that althougl; advanced in years he would be ready if ocav sion arose to share in the.defence of th< country. (Loud applause.) The task thai was set them was to build up a fighting fproe of men who would, be. true to theii nation even unto death. (Applause.) " • • Mr. F. E. Baume, M.P., supported th( motion. He said they did not come forwarc in support of universal training in am jingoistic or purtly military spirit. The all important question from an Imperial poini of view was whether this Dominion was sell contained and; self dependent, and it behovec us as New Zealanders not only to.be readj to take part in foreign conflicts,' but to defend our own land. The man who was noi prepared to pay for the national privileges which he enjoyed was not worth keeping in the country for twenty-four hours. (Loud applause.)' What they wanted was not sc much men who would, die for their couutrj as men who would fight for their country and keep alive. (Laughter and applause.) ' Colonel Allan 8011, a visitor from tho Wai kato, said the colonies had relegated the dutj of defence to a 'few inadequate volunteers and he had no hesitation in saying that th< New Zealand system was one of the mosi rotten that had ever been . tried in anj country. ' It was absolutely hopeless to attaii efficiency. (Applause.) :-. . . ' ' .