DEFENCE FORCE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20853, 11 July 1939, Page 3

DEFENCE FORCE

COMPULSORY TRAINING AUCKLAND WOMEN ADDRESSED An appeal to the members of the Auckland Women's Luncheon Club to take a constructive interest in the defence of the Dominion was made by the Auckland organiser of the New Zealand Defence League, Mr R. 11. Maryalt. He pointed out that the Government would accede to a public demand on this subject, as long as the main body of the people was behind the demand. Every young man capable of bearing arms should be trained for military service os part of his equipment as a citizen, and the women should be trained in emergency services, the speaker continued. The Defence League was not calling for a conscripted force, but believed that there should be compulsory training. lie spoke of the tragedy of leading untrained troops. Mr Maryatt advocated that military training should be started young, as youth was the time when the foundation of education should be laid, and suggested that boys should be given three months' continuous training in the rudiments of soldiering at the age of 18 years. As the basis of this training was physical drill, the results would be beneficial in any event. The present system of training for one year was impracticable, he added. It was well known that troops could not be trained fully in one year, even given continuous training, and he proposed that, in addition to the three months, the boys should serve for a further four years in a territorial unit. “At the end of that time there would not be an ex-ofllcer of the New Zealand Division who would not be prepared to lead New Zealanders against any troops in the world,” concluded Mr Maryatt. “Under the present system no officer would be happy to lead his men into action. The matter is of vital importance to the whole community, and should be attended to immediately.”