THE BARRACK SYSTEM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12717, 12 August 1919, Page 4

THE BARRACK SYSTEM.

A PEACE COUNCIL NOTE. Among the correspondence received at last evening’s meeting of the City Council was the following resolution rroin_ th© National Peace Council: ' ?k? s . council has noted with grave misgivings the seeming desire of the Mayor of Christchurch for the establishment of permanent camps under the proposed Territorial training scheme outlined by the Minister of Defence, hi the vicinity of Christchurch. Such a scheme as that must involve the ‘ barrack system,’ with all its evil accompaniments of vice and disease, and wo can conceive of nothing so calculated to bring disaster upon the growing youth of New Zealand. The experience of the past four years and a half has brought home to parents and public of the Dominion the danger of the barrack life to our young men, and the perpetuation of such a thing will be a reflection upon our boasted intention of crushing militarism. In his letter to the Minister of Defence the Mayor speaks of ‘ profit ’ accruing to Wellington during th© war owing to its proximity to the military camps. If he places material profit against the lives and characters of tho youth of this Dominion, then we are indeed concerned for the future of this country. We trust that the good sense of the parents of the Dominion will lead to their immediate demand for the abolition of hoy conscription in this country.”

Tile Mayor said that his action was not taken from a military standpoint at all—it was dono so that the young men of this country should have some physical training. Councillor Burgoyne: Down with militarism !

The Mayor continued that he utterly repudiated and denied the statements—he did not recognise either the writer of the letter or his society. The letter was merely received.