DEFENCE SYSTEM

Southland Times, Issue 17306, 31 March 1913, Page 2

DEFENCE SYSTEM

SDPPORTED BY MR VEITCH. THE OPPOSITION : ONLY A SPASM. Some interesting remarks on the de» fence system were made by Mr W. AVeitch, M.P., at a re-union of the old - Wanganui Navals' Association' a fewdays ago. In paying a tribute to ths work done by the volunteer force before, the Territorial system came into operation, Mr Veitch said that while tbs young hands 'were , being trained, for. . some time to come it would really.be the old hands upon whom the country would have to rely for defence. He considered that the volunteers had.npt been, properly encouraged, but had been neglecied and starved. The old system would have been the best to build the now system upon, and he regretted thin had not been done. At the same time, the present system had come to stay* and he himself would be found support*. - ing it. Not that it was perfect, but their aim should be to improve its-im-perfections, not to abolish the system. There was, he feared, an element ed snobbery creeping in in regard to pronutions. That should .be seen to, .and • poor man’s son should be given an equal, chance with the.rich, man’s. He considered, too, that the. services of volunteer officers had not been recognised in the matter of appointments under the new system, and that was another matter he intended bringing up. He had nothing to say against the qualifications of the ■ imported officers, but he considered the New Zealand officers knew and Mm handle their men better. Mr Veitch said he‘strongly supported the principle ' of training for national defence. Hscv-

ing been employed for twenty years in -v the Railway Department, he had been nu- - able to do any training himself, but he had two boys who were now of-age enter upon it. They were keen te ge in for it, and if they were otherwise h# •; would feeb inclined te torn themeut. Hit ; had no time for the man who refuted te ■ train for the defence ef hi* cwentiy.Not long since a man had tSfiA .is' hi**, “I voted for you last election,, but -I-,ws| not do so again. Yon support training. But I don’t believe In a bey being trained to shoot his father.* Mr Veitch, in reply, ashed the man Whut he would do if a few Chinamen came up thi'river and carried off his wife and daughter. The man could net reply to Out'- ' argument, and admitted it. He (HIT Veitch) meant to stand by the present* , v system, even if he lest his electee, <<r he would sooner go down In a vest cause th an win in a bad 1 oue. As- > isbers we most bo prepared tojdefend . our homes. Last session only few members voted against the system ta ment, so bearing that in mind, urwyouo would readily perceive that it bad esme, to stay, though improvements ih It leer* • necessary. He did not think the sent agitation of a few people against the system would be continued fer lonafc . It was only a passing spasm. In fee*. If the country were attacked, he bettered, that most of those who were now'yeoIng so loudly against the system would themselves be the first to take up arms. ■ As for the youig New Zealanders, they were a loyal and honourable body, and • bis own opinion of them was thattfaey. • would do their utmost in the defence at their country. ’Mr Veitch’* views-, were loudly cheered by the meeting, which* . save for a Small e'jrinkUfig of huslnsss ; men; was wholly composed of worth* wage-earners.: