THE DEFENCE SYSTEM

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1930, Page 13

THE DEFENCE SYSTEM

SUSPENSION OF THAINING. REMARKS BY GENERAL YOUNG. The temporary suspension by the Government of the compulsory system of military training was referred to by a number of prominent military officers at a reunion in Wellington last week. Among those present was the General Officer Commanding New Zealand Military Forces, Major-General R. Young. Major-General Young, replying to a toast, -said he knew the gathering would understand that while he had his own opinions it was not his place to give rein to free speech. He must be loyal to the Government. There were certain duties he had to perform, and as the servant of the Government he had to carry them out to the best of his ability.

“We have come to, one of the hardest times the Defence Force of New Zealand has ever come to,” continued General Young. “In the interests of economy the Government, can do a lot of things, but when it comes to killing the shoiv, then it is time someone stepped in. It is not for me. I can only do certain things,- but you can do something. Gentlemen, it is for you to say if New Zealand wants an efficient Defence Force and if New Zealand is going to be able to say to the Mother Country, 'We are going to be ready to help you and are going to be ready to defend the Dominion.’ If compulsory training goes now, I cannot see it coming back. . Colonel W. H. Cunningham endorsed the remarks of General Young. “The only danger we run, I think,” he added, “is through ignorance, and there is a very general ignorance among a great section of the public as to what the force is and what is required for efficiency. . . It is the education of the man in the street that is really wanted to-day, and the creation of interest.” Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Cowles said that outside the secondary schools the volunteer training system -was not to be compared with territorial training. Although the men had been willing to work, he did not think that the same amount of accurate work was achieved in the volunteer days as was: obtained under the territorial system. The fighting spirit was necessary, and he did not believe that human nature had so changed that people were not going to fight any more.

“The defence system of New Zealand is passing through rather uncertain times,” said Lieutenant-Colonel R. S. McQnarrie. “The future is uncertain, and I do not know if even the G.O.C. or the Prime Minister could be certain as to what system of defence we shall have in New Zealand in five years’ time. At present the Defence Force of NewZealand consists of volunteers, a small nucleus of officers and. non-commissioned officers. They are the link which joins the great traditions and achievements of the past to the uncertain future, and a tremendous amount depends upon them. They are not strong. It is not a big lipk, but it must be a very fine. link. . . They must have hope' ip. the future and they have got to .stick .to i'-t as the old volunteers stuck to it in their, time.” Lieutenant-Colonel D. J., Gibbs said he was one of those who .believed that every man should be able to. defend his country, and he thought Die territorial system was. the best .means. It seemed a great pity if the system, of training, especially territorial training, was to be abolished.

Captain J. J. Clarke, also referred to the suspension of compulsory training. “I very much regret, and I. am sure all of you do, the state of the country’s Defence Force to-day,” lie said.. Of course we know quite well, those. of us who study these matters,, that you have to and must exercise economy. .It may be that it is wise to make this economy in New Zealand, but it may be that economy might go too far. It may be that it will be very dear economy to suspend the training system.”