LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND DEFENCE ACT.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 26 August 1930, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND DEFENCE ACT.

" Gilbertian ’ ’ is a very much over-used word, but, it is, nevertheless, the. one which leaps to the mind when one contemplates the situation which lias doveloped as the result of the opposition of the Legislative Council to the Defence Amendment Bill. A majority of the members of the Upper House viewed with distaste the Government’s efforts to retrench at the expense of the Territorial Force, and some of them delivered stirring, patriotic speeches before casting their votes against the measure. For twenty-four hours the country wondered what would be the result of the action of the Legislative Council. Was that chamber to prove the last line of defence of the principle of compulsory military training? Some misguided persons w r erc amused at such a prospect and said cutting things about the burning desire of elderly' gentlemen to see others serve the country—and incidentally spend a lot of the country’s money. Others questioned the wisdom displayed by the Legislative Councillors in seeking to thwart the purpose of the elected representatives of the people. The public lias not been long left in doubt as to the outcome of the adverse vote of the Upper House; it has been found that the only effect of that opposition—opposition based on considerations of "duty to King and country ’ ’ will be to make the retrenchment even more rigorous than originally intended by the Government! Parliament lias already agreed to cut off supplies to the Defence Force, but it incorporated in that decision an agreement to recognise voluntary efforts to keep the spirit of Territorial service alive during the twelve months’ suspension of compulsory training. The Legislative Council sought to strike a mighty blow for loyalty, preparedness and so on, but it over-reached itself. The suspension of compulsory military training still stands, but, thanks to the misguided zeal ot the Upper Chamber, a fatal blow has been dealt the hopes of those who desired to carry on voluntarily some measure of military preparedness. Gilbert could have dealt effectively with such an incident hail it happened in the days of lii« collaboration with Sulli-