PARLIAMENT BEHIND!

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13661, 1 August 1908, Page 7

PARLIAMENT BEHIND!

The day may come when the worldfamous fleet may have its colours lowered, or, a' anv rate, that its ships may be kept too "busy defending the Homeland itself to spare" any for our assistance, and on that day it will be a sorry affair for New Zealanders if they have no better means of repelling an invader than they possess at the present time. To our minds there is only one answer to the question that so obviously presents itself, lb is necessary in a country as sparsely populated as ours that every able-bodied person shall be compelled to undergo sufficient training to enable him to become, in the event of a call to arms, an effective fighting unit. This does not necessarily mean that we must spend many weeks in each year attired in special uniforms and practising certain military movements. It does mean, however, that he must give sufficient of his ume to the country in order that he may learn to handle a rifle and also to master the main principles of drill. No one doubts the patriotism of the New Zealander, or his valour and splendid energy, but all of - these qualities would avail him little if called upon in an ■ emergency unless he had previously had some military training. In the event of' war, time counts for everything, and the side which can mobilise smartly' the whole of its potential forces has more than half won the battle. W r ere New Zealanders called upon to deal with a sudden attack, our handful of volunteers would find their first mission was to teach the rudiments of warfare to the rest of the population, and long ere the education was complete the ownership of the country might nave' passed into other hands. To some this may appear a most unlikely contingency, but if we are always to be immune.from attack why should we spend any money at all on a volunteer force? The answer is obvious. We may at some time be called upon to justify our claim to occupy New Zealand, and particularly whilst our population remains small—the task may prove a most difficult one. Yet it is one that should be attempted, and would be by every able-bodied person in the country. In this matter Parliament is a long way behind the people.—"Gisborne Times." The claims of this article are none too stringent. Mark Higgins heartily endorses them, and while doing so, reminds our freaders. that his is just the best place in South Canterbury to take their.cycle repairs; first-class mechanics, .first-class stock, good work, and low charges render it so. Take your cycle to Mark Higgins, the cycle man—you can't do-better...