The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1908. UNIVERSAL TRAINING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13713, 1 October 1908, Page 4

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1908. UNIVERSAL TRAINING.

If tlie Federal Government succeed in passing thf Defence Hill which haw just been introduced in the Commonwealth l'ap liament, Australia will be in the way of making an interesting experiments for 'the benefit of the wholu Empire. The idea of compulsory service lias never commended itself to the Brit--1 i.«h race, although in times of stress the navy litis lucti partly manned with the aid of compulsion, while iu Kngland and no doubt in all her autanomoufc colonies. every man. may be called 'upon to do his j>art for what is i» worth in helping to repel an invasion. Hut a great deal «f "the sentimental objection in British countries to the institution ol eompultsory service arisen from a confusion of the system with the conscription so common among Continental nations. There is a big* difference between the two things. Conscription meart* that a man is forced into h : s national army, not merely to defend his country against attack and invasion, which i* the lirst and last duty of every trurt eiii/.en, hut lie ki counselled bv hue to become a soldier and tight the nation's battles whether at horiiM or abroad. 'Hie distinction sometimes appears a little elusive, but 't is there. Conscription aims at producing j lighting machine—universal service seeks to train a National liuard, to use the apt expression in the Australian DimViuv Hill., I'lle f I i tf<-1 - iu >■ was !it,ii>!ed upon ov.-i a year ago by Mr W. M. Hughes, an Australian labour leader in the Federal I'arlianiTiit who went to London in connection with the Imperial navigation con leieiut- held in April of last year. While ai Horn.- lie gave an address on *' Compttl--»/y .Military Training from the I'oint of View of ail Australian K.ibotir Luuler." in w liich he advocated universal {raining, but not eon>ciipti.iii, S|»:aking at the conclusion of the address. |,o)d Roberts expr-sv-d surprise ! li;it "sensible and ill-tellijj.-iit men could 1* inicdeil i, v Citnt . phrases alinui luilitarisin and conscript : ni>, and « otild object in n system' based upon the principle that ,-veiy ahle-liodicd man, whatever his- rank, w,-tilth, or position, nhould !*> prepared to take his pun >n the defence of his country." There aro thiec broad "rounds Upon whii'li iinivvi sal ami theiefoje. necessarily, compulsory) military lervice may be urged. The lirst •"id most iiijHirtant i, that Mich trainimr w dl piodnc-- lieneficial results of ,i very marked kind. mond, intellectual and sical. in the youth ot the nation. The Hi nt who has had a reasonable mditaiy training will U- in veiy way a better eitiz.'ii for it, and even it he is never called upon to make direct* use of h'K training, tie- Slate as whole a ill have gained and not lo>t 5,v it to him. St-romlly. utiiveis.il iiaininy may l> - ad v... ati'd on t|i, ground that if a gie.it'' national rfSiergejny should arise, the volun it. is who will li,- , agi-i ;o oifei ih. Nt ■.civ.-,, iii the d.feiiie of ili.-ii- lotiiiuy will tie able to offi-i ad that is Worth hiving owing to then training, anii not no-., h ' the half it. cies. ai.i ol patriots, .entimeiit, J 111 tile ihiid place, universal : i .1 :iiinj.' j Wolilil, ill , .Ik,- ~1 ;i, liliil |iv.i«ioll. ;nv- ; ■ I i >■ i|e! i {I ~11,1 ot-g.llliseil ill t t ■hape of ill. Ilirli u lio Here .otll.lit till .!• iyoinj,j Uaiuni!;. ami fiutler ' in.il.e a lew ill tlla-.x. i! t lit- >,v.n,v vine ( ' iIN-il upoll, no; a «>.i;hless moi». liir ( -!i" ten lilaU-!>al oil? of n!ii,ii all .fli, iei t , ,< !!||,\ 1 1.i11.1 hr . [eat,-! With < otnpar.itfV ' 'I hove ate t!c .ieaU : which the «; mJ i aiian Hefciiep !!j!l aims. The rc | '' >illt> «dl pr..1.a1.1y fali a ion;: « :.y | o:* : !>• idr.il. to? IS} .iiv in -lie v. :u s.J j tee !"1I<„' ••noiigh to In-ak tli'-n

into soldiering. .vJ'ut is good .ni.l the liill makes a Ix^-nning.