NATIONAL DEFENCE
SPIRIT OF THE AGE
CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS
Interest in the question of military training in New Zealand is shown by the volume of correspondence received by "The Post." It is impossible to.publish all the letters in full, but we have selected the main contentions made by correspondents expressing the differing viewpoints. "Just 17" writes:—"Do the young fellows you see about our streets today look likely soldiers? Can one think that without training they could be brought up to the standard required for> a war? By training I mean a military course between the ages of 18 and 21, carried on while peace still reigns. Personally, I think not. The fellows of my own age today are definitely apathetic to the nation's defence. I know, because I have talked and mixed with them. Too many of them are dance- and girl-crazy, useless today when civilisation seems to be tottering in the balance and we should turn our minds to Imperial affairs—in particular, defence. ... If the Empire is to live against dictator Powers, and democratic government is to survive, we must train our young men to a military standard equal to or better than, that of other Powers; and to do that we most certainly need intensive compulsory military training right now."
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19370519.2.111.1
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 117, 19 May 1937, Page 12
Word Count
211NATIONAL DEFENCE Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 117, 19 May 1937, Page 12
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