MILITARY TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19798, 19 November 1927, Page 13

MILITARY TRAINING.

COMPULSION OPPOSED. PRESBYTERIAN DECISION. SECURING WORLD PEACE. THE HORRORS OF WAR. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. At to-day's session of the Presbyterian General Assembly it was decided on a three to ono majority to advocate the abolition of compulsory military training. It was further decided to urge other churches within the Dominion to assist in the movement to have the compulsory clauses wiped out. On behalf of the Public Questions Committee, the Rev. Dr. Gibb asked that the resolution passed at tho Assembly last year, expressing the attitude of the Church to compulsory military training, should bo reaffirmed and that the Assembly should give authority to the committee to communicate with other churches with reference to the matter. He moved on these lines. The Church, he said, should reaffirm the desire for disarmament and world peace. It should embark on a crusade for world peace and to assist this the Dominion should drop its compulsory training scheme. There could bo no peace apart from disarmament, ho added. Jealousy and fear between nations were the cause of war. The churches throughout tho world should get behind the League of Nations. Tho Ecrapping of compulsory training would be a practical expression of opinion in favour of world peace. If tho churches combined sooner or later compulsory training could be wiped off the Statute Book. Fostering War Spirit. Tho Rev. J. Paterson seconded the motion. Last year he had opposed tho motion moved then, but a year of profound study had caused him to change his mind. The system of military training was being fostered to keep alive the was spirit in tho youth of the country. The Rev. W. McLean (Oamaru) asked if the preference of the committee was for the wiping out of our system in favour of a higher contribution to the Navy and the Singapore base. Dr. Gibb said that this aspect had not been considered. The Rev. D. Dutton (Dunedin) said that all members would agree with Dr. Gibb in regard to his support of the League of Nations and the horror of war. He protested against the suggestion that there was anything savouring of the German military system in the New Zealand scheme. To be consistent the Church should scrap all forms of defence. Tinkering with the Empire. "Are you going to place the defence of the country on the same plane as golf, tennis or football?" ho asked. "Are you going to make it merely the hobby of a man inclined that way ? To pass the motion is merely to play into the hands of extremists and cranks. The Empire is too great a heritage to be tinkered with." The Rev. Dr. Erwin said very extravagant language was used by the advocates of the motion. "Does this Assembly think that the statesmen of tho world are fools?" he asked. "Here we are safe under the protection of the British Navy. Will they be profoundly impressed therefore by the wiping out of our system ? Any nation wishing to preserve its existence has a defence system. Let ns build up a pentiment against war, but do not,,let us be led away by some of. the cheap clap trap we have heard this morning." Everyone's Job il Eight, The Rev. W. Trotter asked if military training was wror.g, did the the Assembly make it righi; by making it voluntary ? If it was right it. was the job of everv man. In the twenty-third chapter of tfie Confession of Faith there was ample warrant for a Christian being .a soldier. The Rev. L. Hunt (Auckland), J. M. Allen (Wellington), Messrs. W. McNary (Dunedin), and G, D. Macindoe (Invercargill! spoke, all favouring the motion, except the last-named. , At this stage the closure was applied and the motion was carried by 150 votes to 47. The resolution carried by jthe Assembly at its session in Wellington last November was as follows: —"Taafc in view of tho necessity of loyal co-operation with the League of Nations, which has from the first contemplated disarmament as one of its primary objects and chief responsibilities, and which is now pressing on with the matter, tho Assembly records its conviction that the military activities of this country should be reduced as much and as rapidly a? possible, and that as a step in this direction, compulsory military training should be abolished." The report on the matter stated that after a vigorous debate the resolution was carried on a show of hands, with enthusiasm.