MILITARY TRAINING

Feilding Star, Volume 8, Issue 2504, 18 March 1930, Page 5

MILITARY TRAINING

SHOULD BE SUSPENDED BUSINESS MEN'S VIEWS CHAMBF.It OF COMMERCE discussion At the mootof *ho Chamber of Commerce last nighf, the following motion, was carried :—■ “That a remit be forwarded t° tk*» next annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce recommending the suspension of ooiupu?lsory military service for Territorials in the Dominion. In proposing the motion, Mr G. J. Fitzpatrick said when compulsory military training was introduced i.n Now Zealand, the world was heading for a war and knew it. Now the world was moving in the opposite direction, away from any desire for a big coVifliet. The ftwo greatest political personages in the world today were the Prime Minister of Great Britain and the President of the United States, and both these leaders were moving heaven -and earth t° restrict or abolish armament*. In. the second the training being given in our camps would be of no use of war did break out, for .should such a dreadful thing happen, the methods v ould be at least those with which the last war

ended—poison "na bombs, aeroplanes anr! submarine wen pons, and the shouldering of muskets and forming fours would be of no use against •uch attacks. The military service m New Zealand was expensive and valueless. Hr C. S. Jeffs seconded the* motion, realising that the Defence Department ' n this country was costing a staggering sum, and lie would bo glad to see i'-ie drill suspended, bo far as Territorials were concerned. He favoured cadet dull in the schools, which was a good thing, Tint supported the. motion oil the ground of economy. Mr C. H aiisman opposed tiic motion, claiming that* the method cf drill, if reorganised would be good from the physical aspect, and would build up the youth; of tlie country. Also, t^ ie lads needed discipline and the Territorial system was good in this respect. There was too much , of the feeling fo-day that Jack was as good as his master, the whole

young manhood lacking discipline. Mr J. G. Eliott said the proposal for the abolition of military training was a hardly annual in Parliaipent, fhe last M.P. t° bring forward a Bill being Mr Jordan. In speaking to his Bill in fhe la-st session of Parliament members of the House brought out some interesting facts. It was stated that of fhe 120,000 men examined for military service during the war, 55.21 per cent were found to be medically unfit for * service abroad, which was an appalling state of affairs. He thought part of the million sterling now spent on defence would be better employed on physical development- He did not Know if it would be desirable to repeal the 'military ,service, as kibe tendency was to break away from discipline. The whole matter was one of policy for the Administration. Sir Joseph Ward had said last session that fhe whole system of defence would be invef.iga.ted, and had made reference to aviation . He (Mr Eliott) would not vote. otl .this . proposal .before tbo Chamber. Mr A. J. Kellow supported the proposal as it was intended to get an expression of opinion for the Associated Chambers. He thought the country should have a. certain number of men prepared for military service, and mentioned tlie old volunteer system was quite satisfactory Mr T. S. Goldsmith said the discipline enforced in the territorial camp was not very rigid, and the old volunteer system was much better in this respect. The. professional militarist \v;ys not included in that system. Mr A. J. Humphreys supported the motion very strongly. His experience in Trenthnm during the war was that fhe system did not bi-ing out the deired effect of diemline. Camp life was more harmful than good. His opinion was that the liesf method of defence was to have a. highly trained stuff always ready to train raw recruits if necessary. The present system was too expensive. He would 'support the motion as if would afford discussion. In reply, Mr Fitzpatrick said no member had suggested we were Heading for another war. The only reasons given for keeping up the military system were the need for discipline. and the need for physical development. He did not agree that fhe discipline of the young people of this country was had—he thought, it was very good. So far as physical development, was concerned, that was not the object of military training—there were other ways of dealing with that-. The motion was carried.