The Star. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1919. MILITARY TRAINING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12735, 3 September 1919, Page 6

The Star. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1919. MILITARY TRAINING IN NEW ZEALAND.

The Minister of Defence yesterday assured the House that there was no mention to make any change in Territonal training until 1920. This docsion of the Government is a satisfactory one, and it should allay the fears of those who have become somewhat agitated over the question of permanent military camps. "We have all along contended that the present House should not settle the defence policy of the country, and that it should not commit the Dominion to any system of n> 'litany or naval defence which would involve a large and permanent expeudit’i: e. Our contention is that the question of defence should be submitted to the people at the general election, and that to the new Parliament should fall the duty and responsibility of framing and initiating the necessary changes. The thinking public has been alarmed by the proposals which, with s< me appearance of authority, have Ven put before it. The proposal to establish camps into which youths of eighteen would enter for a period of Gaining of four months was a staggering one, and we are satisfied that the people of New Zealand would want some very cogent reasons before they gave their assent to such a course. It was represented that the primary purpose of these camps was to improve the physical standard of the young manhood of the country, and there is no doubt that a properly managed camp would be of very great physical benefit to the young men who were undergoing training. That was conclusively demonstrated by the work of the training camps in New Zealand during the war. The strong point in opposition was the danger of taking youths of eighteen away from their homes and home associations when they are at a very impressionable age, and practically making soldiers of them, because there is no question that at the end of four months’ military training a youth would he as much of a soldier as he was ever likely to be. It was against this militarisation of the youth of the, country that the voice of protest was raised in a volume that compelled respectful attention. The country, wo believe, is not yet satisfied that it can beat its spears into pruning hooks and its swords into ploughshares. It still feels that it has a part to perform in the scheme of Empire defence, and that it must have a . defence system so long as tho gospel of force is the clinching argument in international questions. There does exist, however, a sincere hope that the nations who have just emerged from a devastating and cruel war will join in giving the world muchneeded relief from the burden of armaments and tho ever-present threat of conflict. It is a fact, however, that there still exist nations which can only think internationally in terms of force, and while that is the case even peaceloving and peace-desiring nations cannot disarm. The question - of the provision New Zealand must make for defence is not one which should he dealt with by a dying Parliament. Public opinion must be ascertained, and the only way to get that verdict lies by the path of a general election.