COMPULSORY MILITARY TARINING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9535, 6 May 1909, Page 1

COMPULSORY MILITARY TARINING.

■» — [Pee, Pbess Association.] WELLINGTON, May 5. Mr R. M'Nab, who. had charge of th< Defence Department for two years, wai interviewed by a " New Zealam Times" representative . to-night on thi question of military training. •" I hav< thought out a plan," remarked Mi M'Nab. "I have thought out i scheme and given attention to the ob ligiations of all sections of the com' munity, but I. want it understood thai I only submit a scheme to show thai there are workable schemes, and thaj I am not advocating compulsory mili tary service without any idea of th< shape it should take. If it were adopted as a principle naturajly it would ex for the Parliament of the country t< draw up a scheme with what modifica tions it pleases. I would commence ai the age of about nineteen, and enforc< compulsory training during a period o; not more than five years. The firsi year's training should be for a peribc not exceeding one month, and during the other four years it should not b« more than a fortnight each year. Th< training should take place in fixec camps, a camp being provided for eacr Volunteer district, . and men liable foi service could be given the right of selecting a date at which they would g< /into camp. The camp could be run foi four months, and the men given ax opportunity of selecting' any month So much for the first year's training In regard to the other years, I woulc make the period. include Easter, so ac to reduce to a minimum the inconvenience of a number of men being awaj from any particular establishment a1 the same time." ; . "Would you allow individuals tc buy their freedom from training?" ■" Certainly not," replied Mr M'Nab. " There would be no exceptions to the compulsion except failure to pass th< medical test and possibly there woulc 1 be no objection to allowing men wh< had others depending upon them foi a living applying in open Court and getting exemption. I would make ali classes of the community go into cami together and- allow no reductions ol time. ' If it were convenient to those passing: through their period of compulsion, they might after the first year's service be allowed to put in the whole of their three years period at one time. That, however, is a matter of detail. The men would be paid for their attendance at camp. How much is fot Parliament to fixP- If the compulsory service was limited to three years it would not cost more than the present system until the third year. After the third year it would only cost a small amount more. Under a system limited | to three years' training, and counting on a ten per cent rejection by the medical authorities, we would get* 9000 men annually into dur camps, so that "at the end of three „ years there would be 1-20.000 men in camp. I would allow volunteers to. go in as men whose compulsory term had expired, but the enthusiastic men would all be wanted for instructors, officers and non-commis-sioned officers, and in that way they would continue volunteer service."