COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 89, 17 April 1911, Page 2

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Please allow me to express my heartiest appreciation of the oommonsense letters of "Anti Consoript" and "A True Briton," published by you on the sfch and 12th insts. i*espectively. I do not know who these gentlemen are, but I should like to take tho present opportunity of conveying to thorn my congratulations on their opening up such a vital matter. To my mind, on the statute-book there is no better illustration of our legislators' admirable penetration and utterly selfish foresight' than those two eminently British clauses in the new Defence Act which (1) osempt members cf the Houses of Assembly from liability to service, and (2) condemn only youths under 21 yeai*s of • sge to the edifying ordeal of military training. K. of K. recommended that all young men under 25 should be pressed, but tken K. of K. hadn't a seat to look after ! Much as wo would like to lick the mighty boots of K. of X., still — well, we must bear in mind that tho election comas' off shortly. It is a striking illustration of the influence of K. of X.'s personality that suoh usually thoughtful men as Sir J. G. Ward and Hon. J. A. Millar should lose their heads immediately on his approach, and give their assent to any abomination ho might reoommend in the way of legislation I wish we had a Charles Dickens to wield his mighty pen for us ! He would assuredly take up such a brazen insult to the lady with the trident. Surely that sedate female hid hor face behind hey helmet when she read this new affront, and immediately held her tongue concerning Britons and their "never, never," etc. It's a^- wonder even the pennies in our pockets don't blush. I do most sincerely trust that our young men will respect their manhood in this matter, and by dej tsrmined and organised resistanoe do their very utmost to efface from tho E>tatute-book of tho Dominion such an insulting blot on the boasted freedom of the British race. It only needs proper leadership and stubborn manhood to show our courageous legislators that, after all, New Zealand is a part of a, nation known for its love of freedom. I am glad to notico so many of our choicest manhood seeking a free country, ancl I hope the Union Company's boats will still be crowded until those in authority realise tho position. The young man who would fight for New Zealand at the present juncture is but a spineless traitor to British jus>tioe_ and freedom, for the country which denies to its people tho right to choose their own paths is not worth defending. Personally, I should be very eorry indeed to lose twopence in tho defenoe of such a place. There is just one othei matter, sir, to whioh I would allude with your permission. I noticed in one of the looal papers some time ago a letter from a resident complaining that some youths in his vicinity were in the habit of pelting his roof with stones, and using language whioh would shock a bullock driver. The gentleman generously opined that "it was to such as these that the new Defenoe Bill would prove benefioial." Yos, I wonder if the gentleman ia one of those whoso age compels him to mix up with "such as these" in the lurid atmosphoro of tho drillshed? I wonder whether he has sons in suob a position ? Perhaps. There are in New Zealand a olass of young men — men, I cay, though not 21 — to whom tha idea of the press gang— what olse shall I term it ? — is revolting because of that very reason. Some will recommend such to "have nothing to do with the low ones," but, sir, oontinual contact with beasts is apt to become sickeaing. It is to such young fellows I would say, "Stand up for your manhood." Hoping to hear at any early date of tho founding of some determined organisation to resist to the bitter end this heartless insult, and assuring such of my earnest support. — I am, etc., ! SELF RESPECT. [ Lower Hutt, 14th April.