MILITARY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 126, 30 May 1928, Page 9

MILITARY SERVICE

C.OMPULSOBY OR NOT? DISCUSSION VETOED "I hope .'to live to sec the day when compulsory military ser-vicc» in New Zealand will bo abolished lock, stock, and barrel; and if I had my way it would be," declared Dr. Gibb at. yesterday ai'tcrnoon^s session of the Dominion League of Nations Union. The subject ,was introduced by a remit from Christ'cliurch ;snggesting that it was a subject which : might be .discussed by tho conference of the League of Nations Union. .Mr. Airey, in bringing forward tho remit, said that somo peoplo doubted whether compulsory military training was compatible with tho League of Nations. In Christchurch military organisation seemed to bo .pervading, secondary school life. Boys were then of an impressionable age, and, if-the training was not a farce, it must produce a certain psychological effect. It was a pity that something of more constructive value could not be given the boys: "if you teach them to shoot at figure targets, you must bo filling them with ideas about killing human beings." •Dr.' Gibb said that it was not a subject that the conference should even discuss: it did not concern them. They ■had no right to decline a conflict when a conflict was thrust upon' them; but they had no right to seek a conflict. A discussion would only load ito internal discord and would serve no useful purpose. There was a distinct feeling growing up in New Zealand against compulsory military service. Tho Assembly by an overwhelming majority had voted against it, and what the' As r sembly thought to-day the Church' would think to-morrow. "The Church is forced to deal with the question: we as a conference arc not,"ho concluded. Tho opinion was expressed by the .Rev. Mr. Acheson, of Christchurch, that the League of Nations Union should give a lead on the subject. One of the world's biggest problems to/day was that of disarmament, and tho question was what contribution was New Zealand going to mako towards tho solution of the problem. It was going to be a very live question in the Dominion shortly, Mr. Airey said that tho abolition of compulsory military training did not mean tho abolition of the Defence Forces. Tho president of tho 'conference, Dr. Fisher, was then reminded that the question before tho meeting was solely whether the subject should bo discussed or not, although members seemed to have embarked upon a discussion, already. ■ Tho question; whether • the subject should bo discussed was put to the meeting, the "Noes" being in a major. ir.y.