Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, 22nd MARCH, 1911.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1911, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY, 22nd MARCH, 1911.

Double the Circulation of any other news paper published *» the district.

COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE I The question of compulsory military | service is one of which we have heard I a good deal of late. Sometimes it is ( spoken of as conscription, on other occasions it receives the gilded title of universal service, but both for all practical purposes mean the same thing —that is to say, a system under which every male citizen of the State capable of bearing arms should be forced to set apart a prescribed portion of his time in order to be trained in their use. Now where necessity requires it there can be no objection to the general propositions of compulsory service. If is only fair and right where and when clanger exists that everyone should be liable to be called upon to defend his country. That is one of the elementary principles upon which all communities must be founded more or less. It is a duty the citizen owes to the Government under which he lives. To evade it would be unpatriotic ; to discharge it is only part of the price of the ordered well-being he enjoys. Therefore it cannot be reasonably argued that there is anything inherently wrong in compulsory service as a general idea. It is when we seek to give practical effect to the principle that the debatable ground opens up. The first and essential thing that must be considered when one sets outs to deal with the problem is : Does the country, in order to maintain its frontiers inviolate, require that every citizen be trained in military defence? If not, by imposing compulsory service, the State is simply consuming a certain amount of physical

rind mental energy which might he employed to profitable advantage otherwise. , In other words, the time spent in drill should be spent in handicrafts. That is one of the advantages that Great Britain has at the present time over the conscript nations of Europe. Instead of being in barracks the young men of tire country at a very important period of their life are engaged in learning or perfecting themselves in their trades or professions. But, then, it may be asked, in relying on a voluntary army, is not the Mother Country living in a fool’s paradise; are the people not shutting their eyes to dangers of a menacing nature which are all around them? It is at this stage we must call in the military expert to assist us in our deliberations, and it is the opinion of such an export that we now propose to consider. General Sir Tan Hamilton is one of the greatest of living soldiers. He lias seen service in all parts of the world, and lias distinguished himself on many a hard fought field. He has been a keen student of his owr country’s as well as her Continental neighbours’ army systems, and knows both their weaknesses and their strength. The little volume which Sir lan issued a, few months ago, with an introduction by Mr. Haldane, must therefore be considered of considerable value as bearing on the question. What is the point that General Hamilton at once seizes upon and drives homo? If is this: that IV military system of a nation should be in close relation to its strategic requirements. There are three objects lor which armies are manufactured. The first is the defence of distant frontiers, like those of Britain's overseas dominions. The second is home

defence, where imminent peril over-! shadows the-very existence of the State, j as in modern France or Germany. Thc : third is home defence, like that of the Mother Country, where with a sea-girt coast and a supreme navy, : the risks are very much less than in the case of. a land frontier. If we take the second ' class, into which alone compulsion at present enters, we find that it is 1 considered excellent for its main' purpose —the defence of the homeland ’ from its adjoining neighbours. But, j says Sir lan, “It. can only honestly be employed in wars which are believed to lie in their essence defensive, and it 1 becomes ineffective in proportion as the' idea of conquest begins to dominate the' idea of defence.’’ He instances the 1 , employment of the Japanese Army, in j Manchuria as the extreme point to j which a conscript army may be safely 1 sent. “Up to the battle of Mukden j the whole army felt that they were! fighting for the defence of Japan. After! Mukden this idea lost force, and the Elder Statesmen were too wise to listen! to the hotheads who spoke of marching | on Harbin.” That is to say, an army | raised on a compulsory basis cannot bo; employed properly for any other' purpose than fighting in defence of hearth* and home. Now take the case of the Mother Country. Suppose a 1 conscript force were raised in Great | Britain, it would be the height of absurdity, and would doubtless provoke a general mutiny if the conscripts! were sent to fight, say, in the North of! India. Along with the compulsoryarray for home defence, it would be; necessary, as at present, to have, a voluntary army for foreign service | Germany and France have to keep up both establishments, and they find great difficulty in doing it effectively. Thus Germany maintains three thousand specially enlisted soldiers for service in her colonies. It is a small force, but in order to attract men into it they have to get double the pay given to our soldiers, and be allowed six month’s furlough in three years. If Germany had to garrison, say, India on such terras she could not do it. Both the military system arid the finances of the State would break under the strain. France is in much the same position with regard to her colonial army. Not only has she to pay the volunteers much higher than the conscripts, but she lias to provide civil billets for them when they retire from the service. It will thus be seen that the conscript and the voluntary army cannot bo run successfully together, and the important thing for Britain is that her voluntary army should remain what it is—the best in the world from the point of view of numbers and military character. If her lads were forced to go into the army for home defence, where would she get those thousands of recruits needed annually for the regular army scattered all over her far-flung Empire? The effect, indeed, on recruiting might well be disastrous; it would certainly be very serious. And what-would the Mother Country get in exchange for the present well-trained voluntary army liable for service in any part of the world? A force, which if raised on the National Service League model, would be vastly inferior to it, and* which would not be 'employed where it is most wanted —that is abroad. In addition, the system would add some £8,000,000 to the Army Estimates. Is that a. contingency any one would be prepared to face in order to evolve an army scheme producing such useless results ?

Mr 0. Bickerton, artist. Classes in drawing, painting and stencil work, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons.—Advt. The usual weekly meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society will be held this Wednesday) evening in the Forresters’ Hall at 8 p.m. sharp. Full attendance requested.—Advt.

Hon. A. R. Guinness, M.P., has received the following telegram from Hon. ■J. A. Millar: “Your telegram received re Harbour Board engineer appointment. The matter will be dealt Avith as soon as possible.” .

At four o’clock this morning- the Kumara firebell rang out an alarm, Avhen it was discovered that Mr H. Kelly’s premises were in flames. The fire started in the private portion of the house, Avhich was soon .a mass of flames. Ho\ve\ r er, the Brigade got to work A’ery smartly, and succeeded in confining the blaze to the two back rooms, which AA'ere completely destroyed. The hairdressing shop and stock suffered no damage Avhatever. Eols continue to prove a nuisance through their interference with the Kumara Avater supply. Last week (says the Times) Ave referred to the number of eels coming through the toav i mains No less than four connections Avere blocked Avith. these fish. Last evening t.Avo blockages occurred to Mr Kennedy’s pipes and in each instance an eel of six pounds Avas taken out. Only on. Saturday last Mr. Kennedv took one of five pounds out of his pipe .< Yesterday Messrs G. W. Moss and Co., on account of the executor of the estate of the late Richard Collins, submitted to auction three sections Avith cottages thereon, and four building sections in BlaketoAvn. A five-roomed cottage Avas sold to Mr Joseph Donaldson for £225. He also purchased the two sections at the back, containing half an acre, for£Bo. Mrs Arnott Avas the purchaser of the section at the corner, building allotment 26, for 950. The remaining two cottages undone section Avere passed in, not realising the amount placed on them by the vendors. They hoav remain to he disposed of by private treaty. All the properties .are 'lnrough leases for twenty-one years, reneAvable at nominal ground rental. Speaking of Mr C. E. Bickerton’s exhibits hoav being shown in the Art Exhibition at Christchurch, the Lyttelton Times of yesterday says: “Mr C. E. Biokerton’s ‘Spirit of the Wave,’ No. 75, is in many respects the best painting he has exhibited for some time. The varied

colours of the breaking. Av.owe Imwe been splendidly caught, the water has fine movement, and the brilliant sunrise is very good indeed. The figure hardly succeeds altogether, being, someAvhat stiff. Nevertheless, Mr Bickerton deserves great praise for Avhat be has achieA'ed. A bit of strong dashing pastel work is “A Goldminer’s Home,” No. 181: the drawing and colour are alike crood.” For the British Expedition to the North Bole in 1875 Messrs John BroadAvood and Sons’ pianofortes Avere taken out on board Hie H.M.S. Discovery and H.M.S. Alert. These pianos Avere selected from the ordinary stock at BroadAvood’s by Captain Naves and Lieutenant Eawson, R.N. The Discovery Avinterecl in latitude 52.87 deg., with the cold sometimes 72deg. below zero. On the return of tire ships the pianofortes AA'ere found to have stood remarkably Avell. The Dresden Piano Company, Limited, are the New Zealand agents for the above' world-renowned instruments, and Avill be pleased to supply you Avith particulars as to the terms on which they may be purchased. Address: Tainui Street, A. J. Clarkson, manager.— Advt.

Pearn’s Kuraara beer, second to none.— Ford Bros., phone 17, Kumara.—Advt. Specially reduced, the balance of our stock of preserving pans and Mason’s jam jars, which must be cleared. Come and inspect. Arnott and Seabrook, opposite Town Hall.—Advt. Table cutlery in any quantity, from quarter-dozen at all prices. Try Arnott aiid Seabrook, the place for ironmongery, cutlery, etc.—Advt. Place your orders now for the Coronation numbers of the English weekly papers. Send for a list of those to be published to B. Dixon, bookseller and stationer, Tainui Street, and you will receive one bv return mail.—Advt.

Nasty colds are very easily contracted at this time of year, and those who suffer u this way will find Parkinson’s Lime Syrup a sure and speedy cure for coughs colds and all chest affections. No matter whether your cold is at its early stages or whether it has developed into a bad cough, don’t neglect it any longer, but cure it once and for all with Parkinson’s Lime Syrup. Price 1/-, 1/6, 2/- and 2/6 per bottle at Parkinson and Go’s. —Advt.

The Worksop dredge last week obtained lOloz Bdwt and Pactolus 28oz 9dwt. Remember Waiuta athletic sports, nominations close on the 25th. See advertisement on the first page.—Advt. : One of the largest consignments of artificial wreaths has just been opened up by R. E. Bellamy, undertaker. Prices reduced 15 per cent.—Advt. Annual meeting of St. Columba Hockey Club will be held in the club, rooms tombrrow (Thursday) evening at 8 o’clock.— Advt. ' Onr expert piano and organ tuner, Mr A. G. Harris, is now in town, and will ! tend to all contracts and. casual work All order's sent to the Manager, Dresden Piano Company, Limited, Tainui Street, will receive strict attention.—Advt. The coaches were unable to leave Otira for Cass this morning on account of the flood in the Otira River, and the fact that the crossing had been washed away and the road damaged. Advices received at 3 p.m., however, stated that conditions had so improved that the coaches ware able to leave for Cass this afternoon. The new furs and blouses for autumn wear.. Single furs 2/6, 3/6 up. Fur seta (the new kind) from 35/- set to £l2. Blouses in plain and the new knitted kind 5/6, 6/6, 8/6. 1/- in the £ discount.—W. McKay and Son, the leading drapers and clothiers, Greymouth and Hokitika.— Advt.

It is stated tfrat a proposal is afoot in Hokitika for the formation of a Druids’ Lodge there. Quite a number of enthusiasts are interesting themselves in connection with the project, and it is probable that a meeting will be call. ed at an early date to further its advancement.

The case of E. Dinan (Mr Kitchihgham) v. P. Dinan, an application for a legal separation and alimony, called on Monday, but adjourned, was again called on in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when, there was no appearance of the complainant. The case was, therefore,, further put back till next Court day, April 10th. Mr G. Perotti, Italian Consular Agent for Greymouth, has received official notice that in accordance with the law passed for the benefit of the cities of Messina and Reggio, affected by the earthquake of December 28th, 1908, and now in course of reconstruction for the period of fifteen years from July 13, 1910, vessels calling at those ports will be exempt from all fees for anchorage. The literary and debating section of the Young Men’s. Club opened their winter; session last night by a musical evening and a gift book presentation to the library. There was a good, attendance and the business of the evening was confined to impromptu speaking, in'which several of the members displayed conspicuous ability, answering such questions as to whether the Y.M.C. should nominate one of their number to the Borough Council; should Sir Joseph Ward assume the position of High Commissioner and what effect it would have on the Dominion; should municipal baths be erected in Greymouth ; are we too fond of sport; would no-license benefit the West Coast, and other equally critical questions. Impromptu speeches will form the subject of next week’s evenmar, which is'fixed for Thursday, March 30th.

The second lot of new autumn hats just t o hand. A special lucky purchase bought by our London buyer." Trimmed Paris models 15/6, 17/6 up, serin-trimmed ready to wears 4/6, 6/6, 7/6. Children’s millinery—a special lot 4/6, 5/6 up to 9/6. 1/in the £ discount.—W. McKay and Son, the leading drapers, Mawhera Quay, Greyraouth and Hokitika.—Adyt. Specials at the Thomas and- Mcßeath store.—Autumn and winter items, double width dress goods in plain colours 1/-, 1/3, 1/6 yard. Cream, white .and pink flannelettes 6/-, 7/- dozen. Oilcloth two yards wide 2/6 yard. You’ll find the best always at the least price. 1/- in the £ discount.—The Thomas and Mcßeath store, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth.—Advt. At the Thomas and Mcßeath store you will find the first shipment of new autumn and winter goods, showing Paris hats, shapes for trimming, flowers, feathers, coats, jackets, blouses, etc. You’ll find the best always at the least price. 1/in the £ discount. —The Thomas and McBeath store, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth. -—Advt.

The Boy Scouts mustered in fairly large numbers at the Hall last night and pro- c ceeded to the beach, but, tlre.Aveather com ditions becoming unfavourable, adA'antage was taken of some handy vehicles, whose drivers- soon brought them .back to the Hall. Chief Scoutmaster McGlashan then

v ave the corps an interesting lecture on discipline, and the company dispersed after nominating seA’eral new members for election next Tuesday.

The Hokitika Harbour Boar delection is to he hold on the same date as the municipal elections, viz., Wednesday, the 26th April. Three of the members of the Hokitika Harbour Board are to be returned on the A r ote of the electors of the Borough of-Hokitika, tAA'o by the elec-: tors in the County Avithin the Harbour District, and one by the electors of Ross. The various Boards elected next month are to hold office office for three years.

Some good A 7 alue lines. —Ink. bottles all styles -and sizes 6d to 2/6 each. Cash’ boxes 2/- to 6/6. Pen racks 9d to 1/6. Paper dips 2d to 1/-. Paper files 1/- to 5/6. Inkstands 1/- to 21/-. Stationery cases 2/6', 3/6. Account books of all kinds and sizes at the lowest possible priced. Inspect our stocks of "cneral stationery lines. You can sa\ 7 e money by buying from us.—B. ! Dixon, bookseller and stationer, Tainui Street. —Advt. Model Engineer series of handbooks.— “Slide Valve”; small accumulators, electric batteries, small dynamos, electric lighting for amateurs, electric bells, alarms, mechanical draAving, small electric motors, telephones, alternating currents, induction coils, small electrical measuring instruments, acetylene gas, screAv threads, metal Averkin" tools. Price 9d each, postage 2d extra, at B. Dixon’s, bookseller and stationer, Tainui Street.—'Advt.