MILITARY TRAINING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 72, 25 March 1912, Page 3

MILITARY TRAINING.

PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT. ANNUAL REPORT. A meeting of subscribers and supporters of a system of universal military training will be held at the Town Hall on Thursday night next. Tho report ©f the committee to be presented on that occasion is as follows :—: — I. Following oji the movement throughout the Empire to better the Empire's defences by strengthening the Navy, there was held in Wellington, on 19th. April, 1909, a public meeting of supporters of a system of universay military training. A resolution was passed urging tho Government to institute such a system, and a committee was set up to arrange for holding a mass meeting. 12. 1 2. The committee collected information, and corresponded with others interested in the matter in various parts of the country. It was afforded the opportunity by the Wellington Trades and Labour Council of waiting upon that body and explaining its reasons in sup■porting tho system. It, issued two broad sheets, one containing extracts from opinions of Labour and Socinlist leaders, and the other a reprint of one of the principal of the Clarion articles at that time. It reprinted a, large part of a lecture on the need for discipline and organisation by Colonel R. H. Davies, late Inspector-Genral in New Zealand, and now in command of a brigade at Aldershot. Early in May the committee took an active part in assisting the New Zealand Executive of the National Defence League to inaugurate, the tour which the Hon. R. M'Nab was so public-spirited as to make. As is well-known, he met with almost unanimous support. He is deserving of our warmest thanks. His tour was most opportune, and had a marked effect in maturing and voicing public opinion. ,3. The mass meeting in Wellington was held on loth May. Feeling ran high. An adverse amendment was moved, and, though we were in a majority, tho meeting finally broke up in disorder. 4. On 2nd June a public meeting of women was hold, and a committee set up to act with the Men's Committee. The Joint Committee jiow comprise :—: — Misses Duncan and Richmond, Mesdames A. R. Atkinson, J. Rankino Brown, W. A. Evans, J. P. Firth, B. C. Freeth, H. F. Johnston, J. P. Luke, Robert M'Kenzie, D. J. Nathan, M. J. Reardon, S. A. Rhodes, and E. W. Rutherfurd, Hon. T. W. Hislop, Lieut.Colonel Hume. Messrs. A. R. Atkinson, S. A. Atkinson, J. G. W. Dalrymple, P. C. Freeth, R. C. Kirk, J. P. Luke, Robert M'Kenzie, and W. H. Walton. 5. The committee has found that in practice this number is unwieldy, and it suggests that the meeting consider the desirability of reducing tho number for the future. 6. The balance-sheet is circulated herewith. Owing to tho timely and substantial assistance of a number of supDorters of the movement, the commitiea was enabled in October, 1910, to wipe off its deficit and to carry forward a substantial balance for future work. Our hearty thanks are due to these supporters and to all workers and subscribers for their "help. 7. On 4th June, in conjunction withmeetings of the National Defence League in other parts of the country, the committee held meetings of supporters at Wroser Bay, Newtown, Kelburne, Thorndon, and Petone. On 25th June a similar meeting was hed at tho Hutt. 8. At and after the meetings of 4th. June, the committee circulated a petition embodying the resolutions passed, urging the Government to institute a system of universal military training. 9. The Prime Minister attended the Imperial Defence Conference in the middle of the year, and shortly after hie return the Government announced its adoption of the principle of universal military training. 10. When the Bill was introduced the time at tho disposal of Parliament was very ehort, and accordingly the committee offered no criticism. The Bill passed, and took effect on 24th December. 1909, but its action was suspended pending the receipt of Lord Kitchener's report. 11. After the publication of that itport, on 10th March, 1910, the committee persistently endeavoured to secure its adoption in its entirety. To that end it passed resolutions, and circulated petitions to tho Government. Subsequently it issued two reporta, which were sent to some fifty-six daily papers in the larger towns, and to the members of both Houses of Parliament. 12. The Defence Amendment Act, giving the Government power to adopt Lord Kitchener's scheme, was pacsed by Parliament in October, 1910. A compromise upon the age-limit was arrived at, no training being attempted of those young men then over twentyone. 13. Tho Government has for the pro sent abandoned tho principle of training all the young men. There can bo no doubt that one of the chief leasons for tho universal support accorded to tho new achemo was that it was to make no distinctions, and that all alike would be trained. Time is, of course, necessary for the initiation of aeeliemo such as this, and no supporter of the scheme would desire to embarrass tho authorities by urging undue haste, -but tho committeo is batiefied that the adoption of the univeisal principle will ultimately bo found necessary to the carrying out of Iho scheme. 14 The opponents of compulsory training held a conference in Wellington of delegates from various part 3 of Now Zealand in No\ ember. 1911. A public meeting was also held by them, at which an amendment in favour of tho present scheme was carried by a majority of about 2 to 1. 15. The opponents of the scheme have met with little better success elsewhere. An attempt ha«, however, been made to get the Government to repeal the compulsory clauses, and it is reported in the prees that a number of legislators are favourably inclined to such a course. Such a course would destroy the foundation of the present «chem«. The evidence of the failure of tho volnntary system was overwhelming at the time the change was made in the law. and no evidence hae since been adduced to the contrary. It is difficult to be lievo that legislators, with the responsibility upon them for the defence of this country, c?n seriously contemplate tho repeal of tho compulsory clauses, without any pretence of a mandate from tho people. In view of poesiblc risks, however, it seems desirable that Has organisation shouJd be continued lo watch over and promote tho inter 1 . e.«te of the present scheme. The statement- of accounts shows a credit balance of £31 16s sd. The receipts _ Included — StibficriptioiH £104, collections £14 ; and among the i(,en,s of expenditure we're — Hire of huUa £14, printing, literature, etc.. £29. advertising £15, typing, postages, etc., £15.