THE COLONIES AND CITIZEN SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 6052, 9 November 1906, Page 6

THE COLONIES AND CITIZEN SERVICE

We have not heard very much lately of the National League wdxidh was established in Auckland over three months ago, and wo take this 6pportunity to direct the attention of its authors to a cable message which wo juiblish to-day concerning tho Victorian Branch of the Australian National Defence League. The branch,so it is reported, has submitted to Mr Deakin an important defence scheme, tho chief proposal of which is to establish a volunteer reserve force. It will be as gratifying to those who are working for a more active and enthusiastic interest in homo defence in New Zealand as to the Australian League to learn that thc'Fecleral Government intends to act along the lines advocated by that vigorons body. The Australian League, which has the support of

some of the most influential men in the Commonwealth,-advoeates the uni-

versal military or naval training which is tho first plank in tho New Zealand League’s platform. Whilst the Victoiian .division is in favour of trying at the outset if this end can be realised by voluntary service, the Now South Wales division adopts compulsory service "as an absolute necessity, being firmly convinced that the goal on nnot be reached under any other system, and that by making the plunge at once much valuable time will be saved.” There can be no such thing as an inappropriate occasion for insisting vpon the national importance of an early and active campaign for the settlement of our defence organisation upon the indestructible basis of alert patriotism, and universal marksmanship, and although we have over and over again stated' the case for universal military training, so far as it can be achieved without infringing tho national instinct against compulsion and conscription, we make no apology for returning to a subject tho importance of which cannot be over-stated, lu pur issue of yesterday wo reprinted from the London “Outlook” a sympathetic article, welcoming the- “nationalist” spirit of the colonial defence movements —naval and military—and wh would direct particular notice to that article as evidence of tho .new and encouraging attitude of Great Britain. Mr Watson’s recent statement in “The Call,” the journal of the New South Wales Branch of the Australian Longue, to tho effect that “as true citizens of tho Enijiire, we must be ready to assist in maintaining its integrity,” and that “that can best be achieved in our present circumstances by safeguarding its component parts,” has been welcomed in all quarters in Great Britain. It matters very little to the colonies what British opinion may be upon a dear article of colonial creed, but it would be affectation to assume that indifference to warm sympathy which we should show towards a cold and unsympathetic disapproval. The coidiality pf British Liberal opinion upon the defence aspirations of the colonies is apparent from the kindliness of the “Spectator,” and the “Manchester Guardian,” whose opinions upon the colonial navy problem we recently quoted. Tho London “Times,” as the spokesman of Conservatism, and a different grade of Imperialism from that of tho Liberals, is no Jess enthusiastic over the Aust.alian Defence League. In its issue of September 20th last the “Times” rejoiced over the growth, not only in England, but throughout the Empire, of a sober and purposeful recognition of the civic duty of defence. “The true note of Imperial statesmanship” is what it finds in tho statement of Mr quoted above. No national movement could begin under finer auspices than attend tho awakening of Australasia to.the greatest of its national obligations. So far as New Zealand is concerned tho people who have long nurtured a hope that every- man would one day- possess, and know how to use, a gun and a box of cartridges, can look with something like confidence to a realisation of their desires. _ The speech of Sir Joseph Ward in introducing the De-.i fence Bill is evidence of a Government awake to the country’s necessities, and it now behoves the National League to embark with ardour upon a campaign of education and inspiration.