MILITARY TRAINING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 38

MILITARY TRAINING.

THE DENOMINATIONAL ASPECT. WELLINGTON, May 26. The Acting Minister of Defence (Hon. G. Fowlds) said to a Pest reporter this morning •. — " There seems to be an impression that the Defence Department or the Government are encouraging the formation oi denominational companies. That is not so. The idea started originally with the concession that Boy Scout units were to bo allowed, and from that it has spread to various organisations and churches suggesting that they may have similar units amongst their own people in Senior Csdets. The fact is that we have not in any way encouraged the idea, and under any circumstances the officers of such companies could not be appointed by an organisation or church, but must in every case be appointed by the Defence Department." The Minister added that such companies could only be for Senior Cadets in large towns. The conditions of the defence scheme were primarily geographical, and the force is territorial for Territorials. Any idea of denominational organisation .was quite impossible, and had never been entertained for a moment by the department, as recruits will be drafted into one of the existing companies that are not now and cannot in future be in any case denominational. THE WEARING OP KILTS. WELLINGTON, May 26. A deputation representing different Scottish organisations, including the Highland Rifle Corps, waited on the Acting Minister of Defence (the Hon. G. Fowlds) this afternoon to urge that the department should continue to permit kilts to be worn by the Highland Corps. Mr Herdman, M.P., in introducing the deputation, said he was given to- understand that if the department did not permit the use of the kilt many members of the Highland Rifles would leave the company. He pointed out that -the Highland Rifles had sent an order Home for a supply of kilts. Mr Wilford, M.P., said that if the kilts were abolished the department would strike at a sentiment which had brought about a readiness to serve in Empire mutters. Other members of the deputation put forward the views of Scotsmen on the matter. The Minister, in reply, said he had nothing to add to what had already been said in the newspapers. He understood from a letter he had received from the secretary of the association that the matter was ended. The deputation must see that they could • not, from a military point of view, have one company in a battalion dressed differently from all others. At the present time the question the department had to face was the provision of a working dress—the khaki dress. When once they had- encompassed that difficulty and the country had more money to spend the question of providing a full dress uni : form in kilts or in any other form would come up for consideration. There would be no special interference in the meantime, he added, with the company's waring of kilts. They could wear them when suitable opportunities' offer, and as far as possible he would see that on Coronation Day the Highlanders would parade in their kilts. A MEETING OF PROTEST. BREAKS UP IN DISORDER. CHRISTCHURCH, May 26. A meeting held in the Salvation Army Barracks to-night, called by the Baptist Lay Preachers' Associatien, to protest against the system of compulsory military service, broke up in disorder, the meeting being invaded by a party •of college students, who made such a din as to prevent any business being done. A motion was proposed expressing the opinion that compulsory military training was a violation of liberty and conscience and in direct opposition to humanitarianism, advancement, and progress. An amendment was proposed—'' That the meeting approves of military training, but in the uproar it was impossible to tell whether one or the other was carried. The students afterwards held an openair meeting, in which patriotic speeches were delivered.