THAT EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1813, 28 July 1913, Page 4

THAT EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Sir.—Wo have heard a lot and read a lot about the proposed expeditionary force in connection with thei late visit of the Defenoo Minister to England and Canada. That honourable gentleman and the- Defence officials have taken great pains to point out that such a force as that proposed would bo purely voluntary, and that Section 26 of t.he Defsoioe Act provides for the organisation of a volunteer expeditionary force similar to the South African contingents. • All' this sounds very nice; but what are the facts? Let us look at Section 26 of tho Defence Act, under which the force would be raised. "It shall be lawful for the Governor at any Hine to accept the offer of any members of the Territorial Force, signified through their commanding officer, to subject themselves to the liability to serve in any placo outside New Zealand, and upon such offer being accepted they shall be liable whenever required during tho periods to which the offer extends, to servo accordingly, and while so serving shall be liable to the Army Act." To my mind, sir, this ia nothing more norless than an enlistment trap. There is, it is true, a Bpecious, slim appearance of voluntaryism about it, but it is really only an appearance. Note tho words: ."To subjeot themselves^ to tho liability to rerve in any place outside New Zealand." Sir, I think "at is about time that the people of this country awoke to the fact that, little by little, they are being insidiously led by their leaders into social, political, and military bondage, and os. pocially in the building up of a military caste. This thing is being worked from the Old-Country, where the jingo spirit is rampant, and from whence emanated that guileless Section 26 of the Defence Act.' Unless we are watchful and careful, these insidious and -slim attempts to legrooe the people cf this Dominion will be ultimately successful, and oven if only partially successful will endanger its boma-fide defence measures. It is clear to inv mind that if any guileless confiding vouth is simple enough to allow himself to beguiled into making "an offer," ho is for all time, or until released by Act of Parliament, liable for serviiea in any part of the world. No matter however much ho may havo changed his mind with ripening years, his liability still remains. Is it any wonder that anti-militarists are increasing bv leaps and bounds? So much for this precious 26th Section of the Defence Act, which the democratic members of the present Opposition allowed to become the law of the_ land. Led by tho rin-ht honourable tlrcir lot? loader tliev doubtless chortled—"Sold again and got tho money."—l am, etc.,