Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, JANUARY 17th., 1939. DEFENCE TRAINING

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 January 1939, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, JANUARY 17th., 1939. DEFENCE TRAINING

M R - Savage is lamenting the lack of public interest in the Territorial force of New Zealand, a contrast to the Labour attitude, not so many years ago, when anything tinged with enthusiasm for military training was regarded by the Party with suspicion. The Dominion is paying the penalty today. for that Labour policy, and when seeking scapegoats for the .scarcity of recruits, Mr. Savage

must not omit to include his own Parly. Even, to-day, the mention of compulsory military training arouses hostility in Labour circles, and until Labour leaders, themselves, show more enthusiasm it is unlikely that the country’s young men will recognise a. plain duty.

In these days, when the rights of democracy arc so seriously threatened by totalitarian lands, it is more desirable than usual for young men and women to be trained for national defence. It is foolish lo wait until outside aggression takes place before preparing against such contingency. Military I raining is becoming more and more specialised, and armies cannot be mud 1 * efficient at short notice. To give the Labour Ministry its due, it is awakening to the need for increasing the Defence Force, lint if is unduly cautiom;. It should compel the physically Hr io come in, if they refuse to do ;h<>ir duty voluntarily. The (fo••ernnwnr has enforced eonlrol in oilier directions where it had 1 ss rigid. Seeing so much is done : *v the Slate, nowadays, for young men and women, it is not

asking too much from them io assist in preserving these benefits. Labour reeognises the value of propaganda in various directions, and if it desires to attract the Territorial Force recruits, it must initiate a special publicity campaign. It is reasonable to assume that New Zealand’s young men would be influenced by such appeals. Of late years, they have been encouraged to belittle what. iJiey should have adadmired. It has been left to the comparative]}' few to undertake what was the duty of all. This patriotism has not been adequately recognised, and Ihe country is under a debt of gratitude to those who despite snubs and handicaps, have kept, the Territorial tires burning. It is not surprising that there is a surplus of volunteers for tin 1 Air Porce, but national defence cannot rest on planes, alone. The land forces are more important, if less spectacular. if compulsory military training is as anathema to Labour, it must bring about the desired result, by offering attractive terms to the volunteers. The State must set an example to private employers, in the way of generous treatment of the trainees. If report is true, this is not. always done to-day by some Departments. The general public must do its part by taking a more active interest and pride in those to whom they would owe miK'h were war to come, and generally, flic present apathy must be replaced by a fairer deal. Mr. Savage, should make it clear that the Government mean business regarding adequate Territorial training. Persuasion has been tried and found wanting. If more vigorous attempts to secure volunteers prove unsuccessful, compulsory training will not be safely evaded.