COMPULSORY TRAINING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 105, 1 May 1909, Page 3

COMPULSORY TRAINING.

FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE

COUNTRY

[press association.]

WELLINGTON, April 30. Discussing compulsory military training at a Trades and Labour Council meeting, Mr D. McLaren. M.P., said that the matter was one of great importance, and action should be one of the combined unions. He moved that the matter be referred back to tho Auckland union, with a view to having it brought before the annual conference.

Mr Naugllton agreed with the compulsory system of defence. The Volunteer system was a fraud and a humbug. The Volunteers were doing good work, but there were not enough of them. He advocated compulsory

training because nine-tenths of the people could not take up a rifle and hit a.haystack. Mr Dowdall said that most Volun-teers-joined to curry favour with their employers or for private- benefit. He was not a poltroon or a coward, but would not shed one drop of his blood for the Empire until the 'workers were placed on a conscription basis and the State had taken over the machinery of production. The motion was carried.