NO COMPULSION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 82, 5 March 1938, Page 3

NO COMPULSION.

PLANS FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS. BRITONS ASSURED. LONDON, Feb. 18. The pledge of the Prime Minister, Mr Chamberlain, to the House of Commons, that conscription would not bo introduced in peace time is regarded by many observers as a significant result of the Government’s defeat at the Ipswich by-election, although this is doubtful. It is also regarded as ending suggestions, supported editorialy by the Times, that compulsory nation training organisations should be considered. It was suggested in certain quarters that tlic Government might begin to movo towards a compulsory labour service by introducing an element of compulsion in its Physical Fitness Campaign plans. The King’s speech made it clear, however, that no compulsion is even contemplated, tho movement being entirely voluntary. Several protests followed the compulsory national training suggestions. Tho Spectator stated; “Sir Archibald Sinclair’s note of warning about the tendency to talk of compulsion, even if it is only compulsion in labour service, in this country, is certainly not unjustified.” It declares that the leader in the Times on the subject put compulsion much more squarely on the map than the report ol speeches by individuals on the same subject. “If compulsory labour camps are ever, to come,” it adds, “and no sort of case lias been made out for them —it is essential that they should be preceded by a prolonged, resolute and. sincere experiment on voluntary lines. You are not going to got any real fellowship by compulsion. If the spirit of the camps he worth anything, it will be because young men see the value of a life under discipline for throe months, or six, or whatever the period may be. That being so, it is tho plainest common sense to plan a voluntary movement on an impressive scalo, with, of course, full financial and other backing by the Government, and to go everything to make it a success. If there is compulsion, there would be a resistance that would surprise its advocates.” Mr Chamberlain’s assurance that the pledge by Earl Baldwin when Prime Minister, that conscription would not he introduced in peace time, applied equally to the present Government, was given in reply to a question in the House of Commons. When asked if that applied to all forms of compulsory service, both military and civil, Mr Chamberlain replied “Yes.”