MILITARY TRAINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 14

MILITARY TRAINING

COMPULSION FAVOURED " BEST FITNESS CAMPAIGN" COUNTY COUNCIL'S VIEW [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] GISBORNE, "Wednesday A motion favouring the institution of compulsory military training was passed by the Cook County Council today following the reading of a report outlining what had been done in regard to tho physical fitness campaign. Mr. M. T. B. Hall said that he had never been fitter than when he was undergoing compulsory military training in the Mounted Rifles, and ho believed that compulsory training should be reinstituted. Ho moved that the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, should bo advised that in the opinion of the council the best form of physical fitness campaign, in addition to the activities of existing sports bodies, would bo the institution of a period of military training on the lines of the previous compulsory system. Mr. E. 11. Baker supported tho view that military training would be of inestimable value to the youth of the country and would also fill another purpose in the defence of the country. "My idea of military training is a standing army, say with 30.000 men on the permanent staff, and they could still have territorials and Mounted Rifles as well," said tho chairman, Mr. W. G. Sherratt. Ho added that it appeared as though the Government was now going to do precisely what the four colonels recommended. Mr. Hall's motion was carried unanimously.