THE NATIONAL DEFENGE LEAGUE.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12494, 22 March 1909, Page 4

THE NATION AL DEFENGE LEAGUE.

fTo the Editor, of "The Colonist.") Sir,— l would ask your support of the -movement to found a branch in Nelson of The National Defence League of New Zealand. Steps will bet aken during the next few days to call a publio meeting and start the movement, and it is hoped to enroll at least 500 members. , Membership is open to ladies and many of the strongest suppOl'terS bf the League belong < to the weaker sex: Although the objects of the League are perhaps well known to the public at large, it may be excusable to set them out in full here.'as>some people may have a wrong impression of ihe movement and confuse it with conscription and militarism as known to many, of the Continental nations. The League's object is:-^-To: ensure domestic peace and security^ from all possible invasion by obtaining the national ad6ption of the following safeguards: 1. The universal training, .either ashore or afloat, of all boys and young men until the age of 21, with encouragement" for continued training. 2. All men engaged in every branch of the local maritime and waterside industries to be licensed; preference in all State employment and licensed occupations to British citizens who fulfil special training conditions. .- 3. All assisted immigration to be confined to British stock and to those who have fulfilled or agree to fulfil special training conditions. 4. Sufficient rifles to be kept in the country to arm every fc&pafolS Citizen, and sufficient ammunition in suitable centres to make" all riflemen effective for defence. 1 5-. Any other legitimate means for strengthening national defence. The annual subscription to the..League is one. shilling, and no other obligatory payment is exactfl. This subscription, entitles each -member to .receive a copy of "Defence," the official organ of the League, and published monthly. The funds of the League are supplied by voluntary, contributions, and maiiy large ' sums have been and are being given by prominent men Who arO giving their full and hearty support to the movement. The League as at present constituted is of recent growth having been founded only some two years ago, but its growth has been most phenomenal and the membership now stands at ..over 15,000; At the recent Parliamentary elections . the League actively circularised the candidates throughout the Dominion,' putting to each the following question : "Do ybu consider that the time has arrived for the adoption in Ne* Zealand of a system of universal' training for defence of all boys and young men up to the age of 21?" ; From the replies received and published in "Defence" it would appear that.in the present House no less than. 35 members would give theirsupport to the League's programme. Although an active campaign is to be started. as soon as' Parliament meets, there will be no attempt to force the viewsi.of the National . Defence League: down the throats of. the electors, but every effort will be -made to educate and mould public; opinion, and to remove the^ bugbears of conscription, and militarism which at present stand in the way. i; Both in Australia and New Zealand public opinion has, during the last few years been moving on the same lines as regards national defence and though Australian statesmen have boldly-.taken the lead by the passing of . the Defence Act of last year, our own Parliament will not be slow in passing the necessary legislation to bring our own Dominion into line. Stated) shortly the~ Defence Act' o' Australia provides that all male . inhabitants of Australia (excepting those_ who are exempted by the regulations) who have resided therein for six months and are Britisli subjects, shall be liable to be trained as prescribed, (a) from 12 to 18 years of age. in : the cadets or senior cadets • (b) from 18 to 26 years of age in the Defence Fprce. A triple punishment is provided for the man who evade.' or fails to comply with the require ments of the Act. He is to te anc remain. ineligible for public service, to be and remain disqualified from being an elector, and to: be and remain disqualified to receive an invalid or old age pension. As will be. seen- this Actis much more drastic than the. scheme preferred by thei League which ' asks merely "for univeraL training up to 21 with encouragement for subsequent volunteering. Both the Australian scheme and thatiof 'the League are ? like that of Mr Haldane' s terri- 1 tonal .army, founded on the "Swiss military, system, which is : generally considered by experts to be the sound est scheme of national defence yet evolved,, and which is partly compulcory and partly voluntary in character. In Switzerland every 'male citizen on attaining the age of 20 has to submit .to a medical examination that is of so searching a nature that only 52 per cent are passed as fit for military service. Those who do not pass this medical test have to join the national defence force and put in 55 days trianing in the first yaer and.ll ■days training in each of the 12 following years. The ablest of -the. recruits cife selected for non-commission-ed rank- and they are not permitted to refuse: to act. The commissioned officers are. recommended by the authorities of each canton, but there is no compulsion, to become an officer. Both officers and non-coms have. of course to. submit to a more extended - course of training- than the rank and file. '■ As regards the 48 per cent of the men who are rejected at the medical examination' these have to pay a small poll tax and. a further graduated income tax - as a substitute for riiilitary service. In conclusion it may be well to point out that the scheme of the League does not seek to abolish in any way the existing permanent Or volunteer forces in New Zealand, but 'on the contrary it is thought that its would prove the •" salvation .of the volunteers "who . at present fitid difficulty in filling their ranks and keeping them filled. Prominent volunteer^ officers . throughput the Dominion are amongst the most vigorous and enthusiastic supporters of the movement.- "Train all the lads and encourage the men to volunteer and provide arms to fight with" — this is the platform of the League, surely one- which should not be met with the foolish denunciation of "conscription," .but ought ta receive the hearty support of Government, Parliamerit arid people of New Zealand. I am, etc., 4 JAMES QOULE^R. \-; Nelson,^March;2o. ; ; ■.