MILITARY TRAINING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7868, 2 August 1911, Page 1

MILITARY TRAINING

MEMBERS ON THE SCHEME. STATEMENTS IN PARLIAMENT. References to the military training system were made last night in .Parliament by members, who opened the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate. . Mr. W. T. Jennings (Taumarunui), who opened the debate, said he was astonished to find a growing feeling against compulsory military training. There was a lack of discipline among the rising generation that would bo supplied by militaiy training, and those opposed to it wore doing an injustice to themselves and to their country. . “NOT A BELIEVER.”

'Tin not a believer in the Defence Act of last year,” declared Mr Geo. Witty (Ricearton). "1 went too far, and had it not been for a few of us on Hits side it would have gone further.” He believed in military and physical .training, but it ought to be done in the schools with tho cadet system. There would have been no need for the!present scheme because at far less expense the volunteer system could have been encouraged, and a standing army made available at small cost. Mr Sta-llworthy: A mean .way!

Mr Willy: No. because you are training tho child while it is a child. Wo have too much “cram' 1 in our schools, and if wo gave our children a little more physical training it would bo better for them. ;■