WHY NOT "DEFENCE DAY?"

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15170, 9 December 1912, Page 5

WHY NOT "DEFENCE DAY?"

FOR MILITARY TRAINING.

A BELIEF TO SHOPKEEPERS.

The training of the territorial forces, ib is recognised by all, imposes a burden Upon a great sectidn of the Community, a. burden which in tlie very large majority of cases is carried with the greatest cheerfulness. Among tlib difficulties' arising in connection with Die defence scheme is the need for .taking a, number of young men away from employment, oh Saturdays in order that they -may train with others who have their half-holiday upon' .that' day... This imposes it., 'special hardship upon many, small shopkeepers , .who. observe Wednesday as their half-holiday and who. have . a heavy Saturday afternoon and evening trade. "'Mr. X". £. Tfiode, a. ,of Mount ALbert, has suggested to,a Herald. representative, that a system might easily be .arranged.,. •'overcome.the whole dilTtcully' and to give general satisfaction. He proposes that one. day a month, or more, if .need be,, should, be given over entirely by all .shops, offices, and factories as " Dqfonce. Day," and that til© training of. iho. ierriloriak. should Jake .place .upon, that, day. Such a day, selected according "fir fdm'e simple Rile* so as to fall at, a time of averagelji;. slack, business, would quickly be recogrijised, arid those.ftho were eligible, for.. military .training could all, be released with a- .'minimum of hardship either 'to- ih'eii"employers or to therneelyes, Mr. Thodo said he felt .sure, .such A system would commend itself very., strongly to small shopkeepers, and . would meet with little opposition ■in other quarters. Tl\o officers who.had tile duty, of training the .territorials would probably be very pleased. if it could lie. arranged',, because on each occasion they would have the greatest „.possible rtß iiiiniber of ; men on parade, and of the training could be much increased.