NATIONAL TRAINING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6871, 15 July 1909, Page 7

NATIONAL TRAINING

EARL .ROBERTS’ BILL. DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. A NARROW DEFEAT. Vly Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 14, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 14. Lord Roberts’s National Service Bill, now before the House of Lords, does not provide machinery—it is rather a reconnaissance iii favour of the principles enunciated. During the discussion Lord Roberts himself described the Territorials as a grand organisation, well designed, and lie declared his object was to fill in the framework which that structure afforded. Thus-the country would no longer bs dependent upon a force whoso serious training was deferred until after a declaration of war. “ This latter aspect of our military policy,” Lord Roberts added, “is wilful gambling with the country’s safety.” The Duke of Norfolk supported the Bill, and begged the Lords to take the lead in this subject. The Duke of Northumberland moved an amendment in favour of trusting to the' present military advisors. Lord Lansdowne emphasised overwhelming reasons for giving Mr Haldane’s scheme a fair trial, adding that in his opinion the time was not yet ripe for cbmpulsion. Lord Crewo strongly opposed the Bill. The amendment »was carried by 123 votes to 103, the minority including Lords Curzon, Milner, Newton, Raglan, Ellenborough, Blythe, Haversham, Portsmouth, and the Bishop of Oxford. The majority included the front benches occupants, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Peterborough, and Lords Alverstone, Cromer, Devonshire, and Marlborough. “ The Times ” dwells upon ’ the growth of feeling in favour of the principle of the' Bill, as exemplified in the attitude of independence shown by the peers and the significantly narrow majority.