Compulsory Training.

Thames Star, Volume XLV, Issue 10421, 14 May 1909, Page 1

Compulsory Training.

A DISORDERLY MEETING^ SPEAKERS iINTERIRtTPTED 1. ; (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON 1, Mlay 13. A public meeting wUa held in the concert chamber of the Town Hall to-night in favour of ' comipulsory military training, the Mayor: (Dr. Netwrnan.") presiding. Opposition to | this movement had been manifested i for some tim.ei byi Socalists and 'by j some others, and they had'-held rvreiliniinairy .onleetings and arranged to oppose ainiy resolution favouring c.otmpulsory trainiilig to-night; The full, was cjroiwded, and it was soon evident i that the opposition was present in; forcei'.' " "'' '';.'"' '■"'.. ■':'' ■ :: :

Mr 'R. QMloNiab vas ih& principal speaker 1. Witt, great dfiffiaulty and constant interruptioms he miainialgedt.o deliver an addre'ssi in favour of compulsory military training', though his speech was curtailed amid: naiuicih, of his arguiment losit owing tb. the uproar. It seemed impossible to miaiiintain lorder, all the alpelalkers being JBubjecttedi to conßtant heckling. ; • Mr Hi. C. Kirk moved! the following '.resolution-:., "Rtecognising thati (1) despite the) emthusiasm and self sacrifice i displayed by the officers and men of the volunteer, force of New Zealand, and the large, sums of p«& lie money annually devotedf to tHe purpose, the -Inadequacy of our defence is al source 1 of danger to our selves iand of weakness to the Empire; amid that (2) there is reasonable hope of • any (permanently-, satiafacftory result under existing conditions this mieetini* considers that al system, of umivfitsiai miilitary training'^iouid be esteblshied forthwith in order- to qiuailify our young, mfen for the defence of New Zealand in time cf need." '.. :, "' . ". r ;

■ Mir! R. Rogia 1 endeavoured to more a long ameincLm'ent, 'but -wals unaible to obtain m, hearing, though he was a/bfe between interruptions to utt-er la> few 1 r^imlarks. . ■ Enrentuially those on the platform commenicdng to sing; the "National Abitihertni," this was token up by a miaijority of the auSienoe, and. the m,eeting closed wlthioiut even the rosolwtioinl being put.