COMPULSORY TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 12

COMPULSORY TRAINING.

ABOLITION IN AUSTRALIA.

SUGGESTED VOLUNTEER SYSTEM.

The decision of the Labour Government in Australia to abolish compulsory military training was commended by Mr. J. P. Stevenson, of Auckland, who returned from Sydney by the Mahcno yesterday. Orders for the usual camps had been cancelled, he snid, but what was to be done regarding the defence staffs was as yet quite in the air. It was understood that the ■ Government .intended to concentrate on air defence, but the nature of its plans had not yot been- announced, Opinion was, however, that a skeleton staff would be maintained, ojul a form of volunteer sorvice inaugurated. The Government had done nothing so far except cut out the training. Mr. Stevenson said that ho regarded the abolition of compulsory service as very reasonable, provided that a volunteer system was substituted for it. Employers in Australia wore pleased, because drills and camps must interfere with business to a certain extent. Ho had advocated long ago that such a step should be taken in New Zealand. "I havo served with volunteer and territorial forces in New Zealand, and I am convinced that wo could get a much more officiont body of men under a volunteer system, provided that some inducement were given, and the inducement I suggest i 3 that any man who completed his training with the volunteers should bo given a free pass on the railways for, say, a \veek, which Would enable him to travel during his holiday without cost." Mr. Stevenson addod that tho cost to the country of such a volunteer scliomo would be considerably less than what was now being, spent on dofonce.