"CLASS AND SNOBBERY."

Evening Star, Issue 14634, 2 August 1911, Page 10

" CLASS AND SNOBBERY."

, HOW IT IS TO BE WIPED OUT. WHOLESOME MIUTAEA* TRAINING. [Fnojt Orn SrEciAL Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, August 2. Colonel Alien Bel 1... founder: of the universal training movement in this Danjiniou, speaking tit To Aroha. made some out-' spoken remarks about those who refused to recogniise their duty as citizens and register under the new Defence Act. "For the Quakers'," said Colonel Bell, " I have tho greatest admiration and respect, and I heartily agree with their idea, that war should cease. Unfortunately, even with our improved civilisation and humanitarian ideas, this wan not possible at the prosont time, and' wc had to he prepared. However, preparation for war was only a secondary, though necessary, consideration. As far as universal training was concerned, the great object which he had always put before his audiences during an advocacy of over 15 years was that elevation of the national character which would be a result of the t saining, and this was the aspect that he had always given prominence to in the 500 addresses which lie had delivered on the subject. Under the new system the son of the rich man and the son of the poor man would stand side by side in tho ranks of tho citizen army, the first noticeable result of which would bo that the class distinction aitd snobbery that had undermined society would, to a largo extent, disappear, and even- mart even in tho lowest ranks would he treated with that respect and consideration that, was due to him if he behaved himself as a soldier and a man. The universal training movement would do rucro in a short time to create a capable and reliable citizenship, and fit the people for tho roign of democracy, than our schools and churches had done in a hundred years. For those outside the ranks of the Quakers and other genuine conscientious objectors words failed Itim to express hi.s contempt. They were of no uro to their Empire and their country, and tho sooner they sought fresh fields and pastures new the better."