MILITARY TRAINING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18548, 23 August 1928, Page 9

MILITARY TRAINING.

To The Editor. Dear Sir,—The rejection of the Compulsory Training Abolition Bill by our peace-professing but war-preparing politicians shows how hopelessly misrepresentative of public opinion they are in this connection. Anyone who has studied the trend of national and world affairs must have noted how prone the militaristic element, as represented by “authority,” is, to clash with the popular will as to a country’s alleged defence requirements. Are legislators, of all men, so utterly void of perception as not to have seen how completely barren of any good result the Great War proved to be. Is it not more than a little strange that New Zealand, when she spent far less and was far less militaristic than she is today, was in the van of social and political progress. Militarism inevitably spells stagnation and retrogression to the moral and material advancement of the people. Ministers of the Crown—except that of Defence—tell us the same dismal tale, lack of funds for urgent requirements in their respective Departments Land settlement, so vital to the wellbeing of the Dominion, seems to be particularly adversely affected for want of the needful. As a comparison, Canada, which pays about a tenth of what New Zealand does per head on navalism, has a surplus, is paying off her National Debt and at the same time absorbing thousands of Great Britain’s unemployed. Is Canada only a tenth part as patriotic as New Zealand (some people judge patriotism by cash contributions) or is she not (as far as real true patriotism is concerned) doing her duty equally, if not better, than our Dominion is? Far better to spend on the means of sustaining and saving life than on training in the means of how best to destroy it. I should like to know whether our M.P.’s are really voicing public opinion, or simply airing their own on compulsory training. The people are more than ever showing that over this question there has been a steady drift of thought towards ending compulsion. Therefore, if our so-called representatives won’t really represent us we must change them for those who will, and the sooner the better. —I am. etc., R. PALMER.