Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1910.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 83, 5 October 1910, Page 6

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1910.

THE DEFENCE BILL ASSURED. , — » The Defence Bill went satisfactorily through its final stages in the House of Representatives yesterday. Though the measure suffers from many radical imperfections, the general attitude of members was one of thankfulness and forbearance. Those who are fundamentally opposed to it had done their worst in Committee, and made no parade of factious opposition yesterday. Those on the other hand who approve of the main principle of the Bill were thankful that it had weathered the perils of Committee, and Tecognised that amendments which would have involved a complete reconstruction of the Bill were not to be thought of at this stage, as they could only endanger its passage. The main object which the Bill sought to effect is secured, subject to a modification which does nob entail a permanent injury to its value. The agelimit for compulsory training, which was fixed by the Act of last session at twenty-one years, has been raised to twenty-five, with the proviso that persons who are over the age of twentyone when the Bill comes into force are exempt. The full operation of the scheme is thus delayed for four years, but the area of exemption will be steadily diminishing during that period. With this exception, the Bill will give all the power that is needed for giving immediate effect to Lord Kitchener's recommendations. It does, indeed, give a much wider power, though the fact is consistently ignored by supporters and opponents alike. Some thorough-going champions of the compulsory principle have refused to battle for the Bill on the ground that it is not universal in its scope. On the other hand, the same ground has been used, and successfully used, for conciliating uhe doubters who are afraid of seeing a good thing pushed too fast. Yet, as a matter of fact, the only limitation in the Bill is that of the age-limit. The Bill is just as universal as the Act which it amends, i he only difference being that it covers four more years. Section 35 of the Defen'oe Act of 1909 declares that "subject to the provisions of this Act, all male inhabitants of New ZeaJand who have lesided therein for six months, and are British subjects, shall be liable to be trained" ; and the three periods of training covering the years from twelve to twenty-one are then defined. The Bill makes the limit of the last period the ago of twenty-five insirad of twenty-one. It extends tho juried b£ fPUJ &Mh but U isayes. the

The effect of the measure is, therefore, as we say, to go a good deal further than Lord Kitchener's scheme requires, since it authorises universal training yip to the age of twenty-five, which is about 200 per cent, more than he recommends. Practically, of course, the Government stands committed not to enforce the obligation beyond Lord Kitchener's minimum j but it is a very important point that the Bill itself makes the obligation universal, and that should a partial scheme be found unworkable, the obligation can be enforced all round without fresh legislation. The difficulties of selection will certainly be immejise. It is all left to the Government, although, as we have previously pointed out, the Commonwealth Defence Act gave our legislators a good lead by enumerating the principal grounds of exemption. The idea of exemption by classes, which was first advocated by Mr. James Allen, has been incorporated in the Bill, but subject to this helpful but vague guidance the Government has an absolutely free hand in the matter of exemption and selection. As Mr. Herries remarked during the debate on the third reading of the Bill, the Minister of Defence and the Commandant are to be given a blank cheque, whicTi they can fill in as they please. We have every reason to believe that the Commandant, will prove worthy of the trust that is reposed in him, but no soldier and no civilian, however eminent, should be made the sole arbiter of •the fundamental questions of principle and public policy whioh are involved in the task of selecting some forty per cent, of our young men to undergo compulsory training. This and other defects of, the Bill must, however, stand for amendment in a later session. Meanwhile, let us be tharikful for what we have got, and for the renewed declaration of the Premwj that except in regard to the pay o f the higher officers, the Whole of Lord Kitchener's recommendations -will be faithfully carried out. /

obligation universal, and you will search in vain for any limiting words.