COMPULSORY TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14453, 20 August 1910, Page 7

COMPULSORY TRAINING.

DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA,

OPERATION OF NEW SYSTEM.®

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

IMkliiockxk, August. 19. Senator Pkahpk (Minister for Defence) said the present defence system was inadequate and unfair, and did not give effective defence. The Bill closely followed Lord Kitchener's recommendations, while New Zealand had adopted in toto Lord Kitchener's scheme. The Bill would give six years' training and association, and the men would get all the benefits of that esprit do corps which would make Uiem most effective as fighting units. The proclamation would be issued in September, with a view to introducing the system in January next. It provided lor 100.000 cadets, the first drait of whom would pass into the citizen force in July, 1912. r l he system of the Training College would be based on competitive examinations, entrants to bo selected from the various States on a per capita basis. Ho. anticipated that New Zealand would cooperate, and that sumo New Zealand boys would attend. lie expected that the scheme would be in full operation by 1919 or 1920, when the total lighting force would be 127.000. The ideal was not a standing army, but adequate defence. There was in Australia everything to tempt invasion. !t was a big burden to carry, and it might be said that Government, was asking more than was necessary; but if they erred on the side of safety, they erred ou the right side. The debate, was adjourned.