DEFENCE, FITNESS AND MORALE

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 27, 26 October 1945, Page 6

DEFENCE, FITNESS AND MORALE

The report published yesterday of President Truman’s recommendation for a system of compulsory military service for all American youths will lend force to the views expressed by many individuals and organizations in recent months to the effect that New Zealand should adopt a permanent scheme of compulsory training as the basis of defence, and, secondarily, in the interests of national health and morale. Such a need was stressed at the recent Dominion conference of the R.S.A. in Wellington, and the principle will be endorsed by the general public. As yet, however, no clue has been found as to the Government’s view of the matter. With the war over there is a natural disinclination to consider rhe possibility of a fresh outbreak, but past experience has shown the fundamental necessity for taking practical measures against a recurrence of aggressiveness on the part of ambitious states. Selfdefence is a first essential in taking such precautions, and this cannot be undertaken without suitable military training. As President Truman states, world affairs since the war ended have done little to justify implicit faith in the Charter of the United Nations, the Council of Foreign Ministers or the possession of the atomic bomb secret. Nor can such countries as New Zealand and Australia pin all their faith on defence bases at Singapore, Pearl Harbour and other strategic points. In the absence of guarantees of peace there is an obligation on all peace-seeking communities to take the first measure against aggression. By so doing they will not be questioning the worth of the United Nations Charter, but will be showing an intention to back up their obligations and commitments under the Charter. President Truman has laid due stress on the secondary value of his scheme. New Zealand, with the highest per capita hospital bed rate in the world, and with 40 per cent, of its military-age manhood unfit for active service, should do everything in its power to increase the standard of health among its citizens. Military training would.do much in this direction, and at the same time there would be inculcated into the trainee the spirit of service, the concept of loyal citizenship and the valuable discipline which go hand in hand with military training. The cost of compulsory training would be light if considered as insurance against the enormous costs of war. The secondary aspect, that of physical fitness and morale, would in itself justify the scheme.