MILITARY TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 16

MILITARY TRAINING.

Sir, —I have read with interest your report of tho discussion re the abolitio'n of compulsory military training that took place on Monday evening at a meeting of tho Council of Christian Congregations. It was stated at .that meeting that it was rumoured that the United Party intended to face tho question of abolishing compulsory military training during the next session of Parliament. If there be any truth in this rumour, it is to be earnestly hoped that in the best interests of New Zealand, and of tho United Party itself, that it will attempt no such thing. Sir Joseph Ward will be well advised to consider this matter ' well, before committing himself and his party to such a drastic change in tho law of tha country. The United Party, has received no mandate from the country to make such a change. Despite tho uncompromising attitude of certain members of the Council of Christian Congregations, to the compulsory military training of 1 tha youth of this Dominion, such training has in the past done our youth a vast amount of good, and it would be a great;' pity to depart from it now. A reason adduced for its abolition in New Zealand was that there is no compulsory; training in Great Britain itself. While this is true, it is equally true that had there been compulsory training, and had Great Britain had one million trained troops to face the. Germans at tho. beginning of the war, instead of a thousands, humanly speaking, the warr ; would have ended much sooner than lfi j did, and many valuable lives , would have been saved. The Great War fouud Britain unprepared, hence the loss of lifej -i was greater than it need have' beenu I Compulsory military training is- the law; J of this land, and it does not militate against either the liberty of the subject) or the prosperity of its citizens. I am! convinced that if a referendum were taken on this matter, it would be iound thati the great majority,of the people would be in favour of the continuance of'coin, pulsory military training. Waipu. G. W. Blaib.