COMPULSORY TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14208, 3 November 1909, Page 5

COMPULSORY TRAINING.

APPROVAL FROM ONEHUNGA. The- Onohunga Borough- Council received a letter from tho Christchurch City Council on, Monday night, conveying a resolution favouring compulsory, military training in tho Do-, minion, and 'asking the : Onohunga" Council to support the "proposal. * • '* ■ .' '• ' The Mayor (Mr. John Rowe) heartily endorsed the resolution of the Christchurch • City Council, and moved " That the' Onehunga Borough Council favours the adoption of compulsory military training for the men of tho Dominion." • Mr. Helmed seconded. Mr. John Stoupo opposed the motion, wondering how far it was proposed to go over military training. -... Were they going mad over this matter for a time, or what? Supposing a firm employed a dozen shipping clerks, would these clerks have to be let run away to drill whenever required, and would tho same apply to the hands" at his tannery works? Would ho have' to let young men go off for, say, three weeks," and pay over- . time rates to others to do their work? ' t Mr. Holmes warmly supported the resolution. Tho Mayor, in reply to Mr. Stoupe, said ho believed the Government would frame a Bill conserving tho interests Of business people. For a long time past Britons had been living in a "fool's paradise."' He favoured compulsory training, and his apprentices, even if he had 20, would willingly be given timo off by him to train. If our young men would only take the 'same " interest in the rifle as they take in football, we should be in a position to hold pur own with the best. At present other nations were not talking but doing. Tho resolution was then carried. Messrs. Stoupe and Davies voting against, a