OUR DEFENDERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11249, 14 April 1908, Page 5

OUR DEFENDERS.

THE NEED FOR GREATER ENTHUSIASM. The forthcoming military manoeuvres, in which it is expected that a large number from this district will participate, should infuse greater interest in the subject- of volunteering. The case for the volunteers was put strongly by an officer, in' discussing the subject with n. Herald representative.

"The great trouble, he said, "is to get those who should take an interest in military work to do so. They are not only content to leave the burden Lo a few enthusiasts, but even make light of their efforts. J am talking now of those whose interests should cause them to give' serious attention to the subject, young men with property to protect, and who. by throwing in their weight with those who do give time and attention to the work, could make all the difference between volunteering as it now exists and as it might be. Some of us who could profitably devote our spare time in other ways stick to the work because we feel taht it is a duty we owe our country, but others who should look at it in like manner prefer to rush , away off to polo, cricket, or some kind of sport, ancl to laugh at those who foresee possible dangers to the country, and the need in time of peace to make the best preparation we can in case: our services should ever bn needed. Perhaps they never may be, but that makes it none the less necessary for.', ns "- to make the * best use of the material available, and ;to be prepared in case. of need to go into, the field a disciplined* force.,, .The. need and value of training have been pointed put over -and oyer again by such authorities as Lprd Roberts, and although there is no reason to doubt that those referred to would be quite ready to shoulder a rifle if things came to that,, the effectiveness of such a force would be corisiderably minimised by their;. not having taken advanta^3 of the opportunities for training such as are now offered. Count up the men who take a. -keen ''. interest in military work, and the riien wiio are qualified but refrain, from throwing in their, lot with . the others, arid it '-. will surprise you. There would be no need to worry about the question of defence if all those, who: should, do. so were to take an active part .in: military, matters. We hear, a good odeial about the training of the cadets^ ;and of the ,iise to- which- tlie young;. Colliery may be put in the future,: biit .1 do not' attach much importance to that', unless some' me^ns.can- be found of keeping ;up the interest, and how can it be' satisfactorily done if a: large proportion of young jmen with time . at their disposal and; with ao substantial stake in the country, dp not trbuble to participate in any way ? Tp'carry but the work properly means o many calls oh the tiine of those who have also 16 stick closely to regular work, and a consequence is that many fixtures,' such as rifle' practice arid manoeuvres, are made to fall on holidays, so that a holiday hard earned in other respects, has perhaps to be devoted to the work, of the corps. What 's wanted is the ; infusion of greater in 'terest in volunteering by the hundreds p,f : young men who cat> afford . the tiriie to go into it property, and so encourage, the many others 'who. could be induced to ' take a live interest, in the matter o'f the. defence of their county/ ;.- Y. .:.;'; Asked if he did riot think the young men he Referred to would not readily rally in ' case of need, the officer said that he was not questioning that' at all— in fact, he was quite satisfied that they would. "But how much better it would be," he asked, "for them to be at hand as the . strong nucleus of, a thoroughly disciplined force than to come in as members of a disorganised body? The great difference must be apparent to anyone, whether, or not he has a knowledge of mil.itary matters/and quite apart frorii that thp moral effect of all these young, men devoting their energies to military work in time of peace Would bp very great indeed. Where the subject is now greeted with light-, heartpd. laughteiy the subject df preparedness for defence would instead be treated with the gravity it deserves." ' 'Do you think there is any gravity at the present time?" the officer was asked. X

. "Not specially so," he replied, "but/ b/o'cause we have had peace for a considerable period doe's not; giiataiitjee that/ we will always have it. There "are al-o ways arising complications showing us the necessity of being prepared, as far asYwe. can be. Some of us discern tliose elements oof danger/ and therefore, do not mind devoting as much time as we can toYmilitary duty. The work would bo made much ' pleasanter and ever full of interest if 1 enthusiasm * in it was shown by the. many, who now look on it as something to be passed by for other diversions.'