IS IT WORTH WHILE?

Feilding Star, Volume 6, Issue 1911, 23 May 1928, Page 4

IS IT WORTH WHILE?

There is evidence in all parts of the Dominion that serious drive is being made against the present system of military training, and one of the cudgels that is being used to belabour the system is that of the conscientious objector. The latter lias been airing bis objections in various Police Courts and bis grievances

have been dismissed in Clmrcb assemblies and debating societies in our big towns and cities, it may be contended tlmt these contentions are due to the fact tluif this is election year, and publicity influence is therefore

being brought: to bear upon our members of Parliament, Bill we think the* new drive is deeper than Unit:. One phase of it was touched upon more than lightly at the W.E.A. meeting in Feilding on Monday night. The tutor, Mr 14. Ross, M.A., urged hat the training given to the Territorials was a sheer waste of time and money, because it was out: of date. In these modern days of mechanical warfare, what: was the good of wasting time and energy on foot drill? As a matter of actual, experience in camp during the war period he and other oflieers had found if. much easier to handle and train raw recruits - for overseas than those who had put in their time as Territorials. Our Defence Department, in these hard days

when rigid economy was necessary, could save much money by cutting our such a superfluity as the Tcrritoral system ol' training. Then in tin l drive, which is by no means anfi-

miiilary. cmitloyers and parents alike are in deasily earnest against the system which sends our youths into camp for a fortnight. Their training (here is useless, even harmful, from the economic point of view, for many of these youths are apnrentieos to skilled trades and industries, which are dislocated by the absence of such human cogs in our industrial machinery, and the lads lack that

fortnight ner annum in their experience as tradesmen. Why the De-

fence Department cannot get their youths to out in their neee.'/».ar.v annual training by evening exercises without dislocating small businesses is more than many business men and indnsi rialisis all over the two islands

can understand. All the physical cut

in re and training that are necessary

from tin.' military point of view can and should be doin' while the hoys are at school or college in'the linal years of their education. Bur ir is Parliament that will effect the reform. not the paid oliieers of tin* military staff.