NO CONSCRIPTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 78, 28 September 1907, Page 2

NO CONSCRIPTION.

1 STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. It was briefly announced in the Evening Post yesterduy afternoon that the Government did not believe in conscription, and that the militia is not to be called out. Tho subject was referred to at length by the PiemieT, and is worthy of more extended reference than was possible yesterday. Sir Joseph Ward said he had no intention of authorising any such step, or of planning anything in the nature of conscription. "At a. meeting of tho Council of Defence held on 18th September last," said. Sir Joseph Ward, "a recommendation was made that tho necessary action should be taken to carry out the provisions of the Dofence Act Amendment Act, 1900, sections four to eleven inclusive. Those sections provide for the compilation of militia Tolls. Tho council decided that action should be. taken in tho direction indicated, and tho recommendation was referredi to the ActingMinister of Defence iv a memorandum dated 18th August. My colleague was not present at the meeting of the Defence Council referred to, but he endorsed the recommendation— 'To the Right Hon. the Premier. For your consideration whether militia rolls should be taken out, at any rate at seaports. 1 Mr. M'Nab had no opportunity to confer with me on the matter, and I have seen his minute for the first time since the matter came before the House. The statement that has been made was authorised neither by the Minister of Defence nor by the Acting-Minister of Defines. A recommendation was nuide that the necessary action should' bs taken to carry out the provisions of the Defence Act, but under the clauses referred to there is no power whatever to call out the militia The Government has no intention to do anything of the kind. It has never been suggested by the Government or by the Defence Council that anything of the kind should be done. I have not had any opportunity to discuss the point with Colonel Robin, but in the interview published a wiong impression has been conveyed. As a matter of further procedure, Svhile I do i)ot in the slightest degree reflect upon Colonel Robin's judgment, because his integrity and desire to do what is best for tivs defence service are beyond all question, matters of defenoe- policy should always be given out by the president of the council, the Minister of Defence. Otherwise, misunderstandings may arise, as in the present case. In Colonel Robin's original memo, to the Defence Council there was no suggestion of establishing a system of militia in the country, or of calling out the militia. There was a desire to secure a nominal toll of those capable of joining the militia, at least in the different seaports of the colony, but that is an entirely different matter. If the council had not that information, in case of difficulties arising, it could be charged rightly with having failed in its duty. The Government is against conscription, and is nob in favour of the militia being called out. The Defence Council has not suggested, that. The interview seemed to have conveyed that impression, but that was not tho intention of the Defence Council or of the Government." MEMORIES OF THE PAST. SOME AMUSING INCIDENTS. [BT XXLEURAI'U — OWN UOMUZSrONDENT.] AUCKLAND, 27th September. Apropos of the calling out of the militia the Star to-night gives an interesting account of what occurred in Auck'.nnd during tha olden days. When theWaikato war broke out, it says, (lie militia were exiled out in Auckland, but the hours of drill weie in tho early morning ah the Albert Barracks, and it was no unusual thing for the men to reach the gates in the dark to' be ready to undergo drill at the hands pf Major Tighe. In the evening the men had to turn again and undergo drill at the market. They were supplied with arms and accoutrements, but had no uqifopn- • The parades were very funny to witness because, as is always tho case when men are "compelled" to serve, many took no jnterej-t in their work, and did their dull in a very parfunatory manner. Then, too, the men were in all styles of drcs and of varying sizes. It was no umimial thing to s,ee the baker all white as he had come from the oven, and alongside of him a man in a- frock coat and beltyopiier. On one occasion a wel|-known character had been severely for 'not having clean«d his <gj»n. TJje.next morning he again appeared on parade, with one of the old-fashioned Maori kils.in his hand. Ho stood at attention, still holding on to his kit. Suddenly the eye of the; Commander lighted up, and a perfect vol* ley of language burst forth. "Where's your gun?" was shouted. Tho man : "I took the thing to pieces to clean it, and could not put it together again, sir." . /; One noticeable result of the calling out of the militia in the old days was that ifc caused a number of mm tn join the volunteers, and no doubt such would be the result if th,e,. Government did so now. The fact that the 'men in the volunteers elect their own officers is thought to make a better feeling, exist bptween them and their men. On the other hand, an old militia man when talking to a. Star representative to-day, icmnrked: "Of course that's all humbug, you know. I noticed that when theio had been an election of officers in those duys if the parties were pretty evenly balanced, Uie 'losers were sulky for a good time aftunvards, but with us militia men who Lad our officers appointed by the Government, there was no trouble at all, as the ofliceis were vvell fitted to command und, ,jiot being responsible to the men for their appointment, the discipline was good. If I had my time over again I would sooner be in the militia."