ENFORCING DEFENCE LAW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1407, 6 April 1912, Page 6

ENFORCING DEFENCE LAW.

WHAT .WILL OB DONE. STATEMENT BY HON. A, k MYliltS, (By Holograph.— Vtem Awocititlou.) Auckland, April e> Some important proposals in connection with tho Territorial defence system were announced b.y tho Minister for Defence (Hon. A. M. Myers) when interviewed by a reporter. The now Government lins determined to provide for tho training of all men liable for service, and to enforce the provisions of the Act without any change in the methods whioh lmvo been followed up to the present. The Success'of'the Camps. The Minister etatod that 22 Territorial camps have been held, and nearly 10,000 men have received training at them. The- Jatest encampments ore those at Greyraouth and Eangiora, where the 13th North Canterbury and Westland Eegiment is encamped in half batallions, with a total of SSI men, representing 82 per cent, of the enrolment strength of the batallion. With' the exception of the Taranaki Infantry Begiinent, which will go into cajnp at the end of this month to suit' the convenience of dairy farmers, all the artillery, infantry, and engineers have completed their training for the year. The camps of the mounted regiments will be hold later in tho year to suit the farming and dairying community, ■ from which the ■ mounted men are chiefly drawn. "" '

Discussing the operation of the system, Mr. Myers said that every effort had been made to suit the convenience of employers and employees, but it had not been possible to satisfy .everybody. Ho had no hesitation in saying that there need be no fear as to tho success of the scheme. He was informed by General Godley that in every camp tho greatest keenness, good will, and enthusiasm, had prevailed among the men, and General Godley and tho officers who had come from England with him had been,most favourably impressed with tho material with which they had to deal. Tho progress made in so short a timo had exceeded their utmost expectations. - "It has been stated that the training is not to be, universal," the Minister remarked: "It has now .been decided to provide for tho training'of all men liable for service by drafting into rifle clubs those men who have not been enrolled in the Territorial forces, while safeguarding the interests 'of the rifle clubs.' It is intended, with thoir' co-operation, to secure the training of every man registered under the Act except those physically unfit to carry arms.

The Imprisonments and Fines. The attitude of tho new Government in regard to thoso men who havo refused to serve was explained by the Minister. "The Government," ho said, "has no intention of not enforcing the Act, although it regrets to he compelled to (b so by means of imprisonment. But it is a mJstako to suppose that youths have been sentenced to imprisonment for refusing to serve—that is-not the case. Tho penalty inflicted has been a fine, and the only reason for imprisonment in certain cases has boon the contempt of Court involved by the refusals to pay the fines. If a young" man-will , not obey the law and .fulfil liis obligations as a citizen to , prepare; himself, for the defence, of his country, he must bo prepared to forfeit liis right to vote as au elector, and any claim for Government employment." •"The Government is determined," continued Mr. Myers, "to sec that the law is vindicated by all those who commit a breach of the Defence Act. It was not the intention of the Legislature that the penalty should involve imprisonment, and Cabinet was now considering a remission of the sentences now being served by men who have refused to pay the fines inflicted for breaches of the Act. The Government had no intention of making any.departure from tho method of enforcing tho Act that has been followed up to the present."