NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12345, 15 October 1909, Page 5

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

PETITION FOR UNIVERSAL TRAINING.

Captain McNaught, General Secretary of the Wanganui District of the above , League, has - received the following letter from the governing body of the League at Auckland, and printed forms of the petition in favour of Universal Training for presentation .to Parliament: —■

The. Hon. Sec.,

Wanganui Branch. National Defence League of N.Z

Dear Sir, —■ , I enclose you printed forms of petition in favour of universal training for presentation to Parliament. As the question of internal defence is coming before Parliament early this session you will be doing a service to the cause if you obtain as many signatures as possible. £t would be as well for you to send the petitions to P v arliament through the member for your district, but in case this is not coenvenient to you they will be duly "forwarded to Parliament if you send them to this office. In case you send them through your member we would be pleased if you could send to" this office a note stating the number of names attached so that, we may make a complete count of the numbers sent from all part of the Dominion. Additional forms will be supplied at any time if required.

With best wishes. Yours sincerely, R. M. HACKET, Hon. Gen. Sec

To the Hohoura'ble the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament Assembled:—

The petition of the undersigned humbly showeth that the; people of New Zealand view with~ alarm the absence of .that, general^trajnJQg'.fgr^ home defence, which has been made imperative by the military and naval developments of modern times in both Europe nad Asia, and believe, that- in spite of- the sacrifices made by the volnnteers of the Dominion, the voluntary system has proved to be inadequate for the purpose intended. .'

And that public opinion is consequently strongly in favour of the Universal and compulsory training of the youth of the community, under conditions which will not* interfere Tlnduly with civic life. i :.

And that the undersigned respectfully and urgently request your Honourable House to take siich steps as will provide for the sft'd universal 'and compulsory training.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray..