MILITARY SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7447, 23 May 1911, Page 9

MILITARY SERVICE

(To the Editor.** N.Z. Times.”) Sir,—This scheme seems to have at lost 1 aroused some opposition, and the views ■ expressed against it are not of a very; convincing nature. The need of some na- ■. tioual d© ence, I think, may bo accepted, as on absolute no'essity. Mr Fisher stated only the other day. that the Common* j wealth Ministry would be guilty .of a cri- I minal act in neglecting adequate defence of Australia} tho same applies to this Dominion. The only aspect of tho subject that I think may bo challenged with any decree of feeling, is that tho country should have settled the question, whether it should be compulsory or not. The verdict, I am j sure, would have been in the affirmative. However, that is the only grounds of a complaint, so far as I can see. We must bear in mind • the House was unanimous on the subje-1. I presume it may be taken for granted that this pretty well represented the feeling of those who elected representatives in the Dominion Parliament. I think, under existing conditions, the scheme as adopted could not very well bo improved on. The course of training as outlined ,is not excessive, and 1 feel sure it will do the youth of this country an immense amount of good, not counting .its great advantage for defence purposes. I think tho House made an error in not including Maoris under the Act. A naturally warlike race, they would havo taken to it like a duck to wat.r. Finally, 1 may say tho circumstances whi(ih havo made .it necessary to introduce an Act of the nature under review are not too clearly understood by the average citizen. Had our legislators not taken such steps in the direction of the country's se-curity,*-they would have, been unworthy of holding the positions .of trust placed in them.—l am, etc., nr rtrt J TOMMY. May 22nd. •