THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15715, 7 September 1911, Page 5

THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

QUESTION- OF EXEMPTION [FIUIW OUP. CORKESVOSDENT.]

WELLINGTON, September G

“ The training under the de,ence scheme.” said the 'Prime Minister to Mr Ct. W. Russell to-day, “ will be universal. There will be no exemptions for any special classes of' the population. The only exemptions, from training will be those for physical unfitness. _ hue physical standard for the Territorial fore© must lx* rnaclo sufficiently high to insure the inclusion of only those who are perfectly 111. since the Territorial force is tor the defence cf tho country, bat the percentage of rejections for the senior cadets will be kept so low as to exclude* only those who are quite unfit to undergo tho training required or to bo improved physically by it. _ It is in tho senior cadets that the universality cf the training of tho youth of the country will ho carried to its utmost possible limits.” Mr Russell said there was a hand of young men in Christchurch known as tho “We Wont’s,” who positively refused to register under the defence scheme. Ho was told, also, that a considerable number of youths in the Addington workshops were members of this brigade. In the Court proceedings brought against Smith and Nuttall, the case against Nuttall was withdrawn by the Defence authorities without any reason being given, and Nuttall subsequently, wrote to the Lyttelton Times ” a defiant letter, stating that tho case had been withdrawn through no change on bi 3 part whatever, and that he did not intend to let hia conscience he browbeaten by the administration of “ this iniquitous Act.” Tlie point, Mr Russell- added, was that if Nuttall was going to defy tho law and refuse to register alter a prosecution had becin instituted against him and withdrawn, then the whole Act was going to fall down. There must be equity in the matter, or the Government should bring down legislation providing that youths over eighteen years of age should be allowed to volunteer ami not be prosecuted for refusing to register. Men had been fined and sont to prison lor refusing to register. The matter was one that called for tho direct intervention of the Government. He was prepared to say that while the Act was on the Statute Book it should be enforced by the Government. Such young men as Nuttall, who refused to register, should be brought to hook. The present situation indicated' a change of front, or a lamentable weakness in carrying out the provisions of tho Acte The Prime Minister said that every reasonable effort was being made, and would be? marie, to curry out the scheme with tho least possible friction. Tin! Commandant was a sensible man, who knew it was necessary to avoid friction. There were those who preached the idea that Parliament was desirous of doing something unusual in connection with defence matters. That was not so, but it was essential for tho country to have u proper system of internal defence in view of the tremendous ojieratious that lincl gone on in other parts of the world.