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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 76, 6 May 1914, Page 6

Sir Joseph Ward must have experienced a reminiscent thrill of authority when listening to the deputation of antimilitarists yesterday in their appeal to him to assist in bringing about the repeal of the compulsory sections of the Defence Act. The Leader of the Opposition was plaeed in a somewhat invidious position as father of the measure

(which is very unpopular with a small section of the community in Christ-

church), and as leader of a party which is making a serious attempt to return to power. Sir Joseph was not to be drawn with regard to modifications of the compulsory age limit. "If there was any way they could place the defence system on a better basis, he was prepared to consider it": in reply to this, the mover of the vote of thanks commented that Sir Joseph had not given the deputation much satisfaction. We cannot see that the anti-militarists improved their ease in any way by their representations yesterday. The stock arguments and contentions were reiterated by the several speakers, who may be credited only with consistency in their ill-founded antagonism to a national necessity. The volunteer system, commendable in many ways, could not in these advanced days be considered seriously as a line of defence, and it is useless discussing the matter of the abolition of the (compulsory clauses of the present Act, Whether an invasion from oversea is or is not likely in the future, does not enter into the question at all. No sane householder waits till there is a fire across the street before he rushes off to secure a policy of insurance over his effects; and, equally, no country, which is any sort of a country at all, is going to delay taking out its defence insurance until the enemy is knocking at the gates. New Zealand has seen fit to approve of the Defence Act, and it is useless for the anti-militarists to kick against the pricks. Stories about the tyranny of conscription and blighted manhood impress nobody.