COMPULSORY TRAINING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 28 March 1930, Page 4

COMPULSORY TRAINING

IS IT TO BE DISCONTINUED?

(By Telegraph—Special to “The Mail")

CHRISTCHURCH, 27th March

Is the decision of the Government that no further territorial camps will be held this year a foreshadowing of the abolition of. coifipulsory military training in New Zealand? One Christchurch man, an ex-volun-teer and territorial officer of wide experience, told a reporter that he considered this certain., while others who have read between the lines of the statement made by Sir Joseph Ward on the subject consider it likely. “I hope the statement does mean the end of compulsory military training in New Zealand,” said the Rev. J. K. Archer, Mayor of Christchurch. Labour, he said, would support anything that would mean a reduction in the cost ot defence. -

“It looks as if Sir Joseph Ward, prompted perhaps by the Labour Party, intends to abolish compulsory military training,” said Mr H. S. S. Kyle, Reform member for Riccarton. “Personally I am opposed to the total abolition of compulsory military training. So far as a party, we have been in favour of the present system and have stuck to it all through. I think, myself, that it mignt be made a little less rigid, but I am in favour of the principles.”