COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13334, 24 March 1911, Page 2

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING

LAW STUDENTS AND TRAINING. Amusing Dunedin Happenings. At a meeting of law dorks and students held in Dunedin on Friday, three delegates were .appointed to approach the Law Society with the, purpose of securing the help of that body in obtaining some concession in the matter.of military training. The students 'claim that with classes to attend before going to offices in the morning, with office work until nearly six, and with only the evening for study, they cannot afford a night a week for military training. AVhat they propose is that the Government should allow them to put in their drill in the vacation mouths, between and March. The Dunedin Star has devoted two leaders to what it terms "the law students’ preposterous demand." Here are some extracts from the Star: “The Dunedin law students have been considerably in evidence of' late. They have been in plaintive mood, and their plaints have been articulated with an aggressive assurance which promises well for their future forensic success. Advocacy in the local Courts a few years hence should not be lacking in.confidence and aplomb; and if it should he rather one-sided, well, that is an almost essential characteristic of the professional verdict-winner. But there are grievances and grievances. “Our young legal friends have not invariably been disposed to ‘scorn delights’ ; they have done pretty much ‘as others use’ (wo omit the Miltonic details); and some of them have indulged in the ‘pleasures of winter,’ occasionally visiting theatres, and even tripping It on the light fantastic toe, without imperilling their salvation in the matter of ‘exams.’ And now they arc lawyers, and good lawyers, roc—members of a profession which may or may not be ‘admittedly one of the greatest and noblest in existence,’ a little below the angels, but which certainly has a peculiar obligation in connection" with the maintenance of that national security upon which, in turn, the security of law depends. If the law students are really victims of the malign necessity of incessant ‘swot,’ the sooner they are bundled off to a military camp the better for themselves and for ‘eugenic’ progress. We hope that no more will be heard of this farfetched and unworthy pica for exemption.”

‘‘lt is true that at the mooting held on Friday night (for they actually found time to hold a meeting) the preposterous demand for total immunity from military service was not formulated. A shrewd perception of the trend of public opinion—and (wo trust) a grain of conscience—held the extremists in check. But there was no lack of boldness—unreasonable boldness, as we think—in the attitude taken up by these weary and wearisome complainants. They will do their duty and obey the law—provided that special conditions are made for their peculiar pleasure and convenience. Let the defence regulations and arrangements be upset in their sacred interests, and they will graciously consent to qualify themselves for the task of defending their country without entering any further demurrers. And the Law Society are asked to bring influence to boar on the Defence Department, with a view to procuring this quite unwarrantable piece of preference or favoritism. We think that the president and executive of the Law Society may bo trusted to read the three delegates a sharp lesson when this irrational request is formally presented. It seems that wo did not speak plainly enough on Thursday. We treated a display of unreason and absurdity in too good-humoured a strain. It is necessary to tell the law students more plainly that they are setting a shockingly bad example to the rest of the community —especially those classes .whom they may be diseased to regard as their inferiors, but who work a good deal harder than they do. 'lJiera are at least a dozen special sections of the population that could make out as valid a claim for preferential treatment as any that the law students can advance. The wail about overwork is, for the most part, sheer humbug. ‘lt is all rot,’ observed a shrewd observer of men and manners, in our hearing, ‘speaking generally, the Dunedin law students manage to have a. very good time. Theatre going, dancing, skating, flirting, “weekending,” and billiards are all very much in their line; and the actual lawc’rs (who have gone Through the mill of work and pleasure) laugh, as well they may, at the fanciful picture of their Juniors’ woes and trials.’ Let the students put-that in their pipes.”