THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, JULY 21, 1913. THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15821, 21 July 1913, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, JULY 21, 1913. THE DEFENCE FORCES.

The operation of the defence system of the dominion has become the subject of so much discussion that the annual report of the department is vested with a great deal of interest for the public. The particulars relating to tho numerical strength of the citizen army perhaps claim special attention. The Commandant's report shows that up to April 30 of this year the registration of all persons available for training gave a- total of 69,700, including 29,560 Territorials and 40,140 Senior Cadets. Reference to the report of last year shows that the registration numbers up to May 31, 1912, were 28,600 Territorials and 33,197 cadets, a total of 61,797. There has- been an increase in the registrations,. therefore, in eleven months, of 7903—mainly in the case of the Semor Cadets. A statement that is presented as to the manner in which the difference between the number of ' registrations this year and the actual strength of the forces is considered to be accounted for shows that after the elimination of active members of rifle clubs from the calculation and after the posting of 7500 youths as Senior Cadets the deficiency or discrepancy is 12,141. Of these, 906 seem to have defied explanation and become a mystery. Some of the estimates tised in this relation are clearly, however, only approximate. A point of interest regarding which a certain measure of enlightenment would have been acceptable is whether the number of registrations corresponds closely or not with the number of persons liable to be registered. The report of 1912 mentioned thai the registration of Territorials in that year was in excess of those estimated to be liable, and it may be presumed, in view of the increase of registrations which has been recorded, that the position is not less satisfactory now, It has been suggested, however, though probably without any definite reason, that there have been evasions of registration and that the authorities have been permitting a number of persons who are liable for training to escape their ■ obligations. Although in view of its origin the suggestion is not one perhaps to which a great deal of importance should be attached, yet it is desirable that the report of the Defence Department should show, so far as possible, how- tho. registration figures correspond with those which might be expected. Necessarily there must be a certain leakage, particularly in tho case of youths living in out-of-the-way districts, but every effort should be made to keep this down to a minimum. The return relating to the prosecutions carried out in various parts of the dominion sinco the inauguration of the defence scheme for neglect to register, for refusal to take the oath, and for absence from or obstruction of parades places both Wellington and Canterbury in an unfavourable light. The explanation of the bad prominence

attained by Canterbury in this respect is one that may best be furnished by the people of that district.

In a letter which we publish this morning the Rev. P. B. Fraser discusses in an interesting manner the position of "recusants'' under the Defence Act, and suggests certain methods whereby they might, he thinks, be effectively dealt with otherwise than by the system in operation, for example, at Ripa Island. Our correspondent readily admits the difficulty of distinguishing between the genuine conscientious objector and the resister who assumes that title for his own ends without possessing any of the convictions which it implies. He believes that there should be some means of separating these two classes by a test, automatic in its operation, 'which would avoid the present tendency to the manufacture of "martyrs.'' 'Summed up, bis idea is that those who refuse to undergo military training should be given the alternative of rendering some other Eervice in respect to which they could have no conscientious objection, as, for example, tree-planting, for a time equivalent to that which otherwise would be spent in drill, and that in the event of their refusing this offer they shonld have their names struck off the electoral roll and be marked as ineligible for employment in the public service. The present method of dealing with the recusants is certainly so far from being entirely satisfactory that it is easy to sympathise with Mr Fraser's desire for an automatic alternative for military training, bnt the crux of the position lies in the fact that to be effective it must be an enforceable alternative. The Defence Act already provides, it is to be remembered, that those who object to military training on the ground that it is contrary to their religious belief may be granted a certificate of exemption which imposes on the recipient liability to perform such nonmilitary service as may be prescribed as an equivalent. But though the provisions of the Act have not yet been thoroughly 'tested, the opportunity of doing equivalent non-military service would seem just as likely to be flouted by the recusant as the obligation to undergo training. It is not, however, the really conscientious objector who presents much difficulty, but the objector who resists simply because ho. is devoid of conscience and because he possesses that spirit of pure "cussedness" the existence of which Mr Fraser recognises. It is at least doubtful, moreover, whether the punishment of disfranchisement—for which provision in certain cases aheady exists— will be .enforceable in such a way as to prevent those to whom it may be applied from securing enrolment without detection at election time, and it certainly will not possess the recommendation of being in every instance immediately effective. .