THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 23. 1926. MILITARY TRAINING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19902, 23 September 1926, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 23. 1926. MILITARY TRAINING.

The question of compulsory military training, extremely fruitful of controversy in the past, remains what We may term a provocative subject of debate. Certainly the discussion of it by members of the Auckland Council of Christian Congregations was not marked by any lack of unanimity, but what was said and approved was in the nature of a protest against views of a different complexion that are said to be entertained in another quarter. This Auckland organisation ran a tilt against the principle of compulsion in relation to military training to the extent of passing a resolution expressing the opinion that it should be abandoned in favour of the voluntary principle. Probably it would not have got as far as this, however, or have dismissed the matter at all, but for the introduction of an issue that may be regarded as really quite extraneous — namely, a suggestion that youths should be sent into camp for training for a period of three months. There is a confusion of thought in the association of compulsory training with the idea of a three months’ camp for territorials. There is no necessary connection between the two matters, and it may be confidently conjectured that there is no official contemplation of a three months 1 training camp. In the circumstances, there would bo little purpose in examining the grounds of objection to any such proposals that were expressed at the meeting of the Auckland Council of Christian Congregations. The question whether there should be a reversion from compulsory to voluntary training is a matter concerning which there may be a legitimate difference of opinion. As should fairly be recognised, compulsory training has its value apart from the military aspect. But it may be conceded to be an arguable point whether the expenditure which the system entails La warranted by the results that are obtained. During the war it was found that recruits who had not had the benefit of previous military instruction could bo brought, under a system of intensive training, to a desirable standard of military efficiency within a few weeks. It is foolish, however, to talk, as one of tho speakers did at the meeting in Auckland, of New Zealand being the most militaristic of tho dominions. What is in evidence in New Zealand is not tho militaristic spirit, but an attitude of mind based on the recognition of the circumstance that this Dominion should not be content to rely wholly upon the Mother Country for protection. The security of tho Empire demands in existing circumstances that defensive forces shall be maintained in tho dominions, and, although the great burden of meeting the requirements of Imperial defence is shouldered by Great Britain, New Zealand has a duty to discharge in contributing towards the upkeep of services of which she reaps the benefit. What she spends on the navy and on land forces represents an expenditure for purely defensive purposes. It represents the price of security—an insurance against the risk of attack. In respect of naval expenditure, New Zealand by no means shoulders as yet her full national obligation, and her air service establishment is negligible and in great need of expansion.