A BEGINNING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 485, 19 April 1909, Page 4

A BEGINNING.

It is pleasing to find that there' are some citizens with sufficient public spirit and enthusiasm to lake up the question.of national dofenco and to, endeavour to stimulate public interest in this important duty to tho State. A preliminary meeting is to bo held at tho Town Hall this afternoon, to make, arrangements for ii mass meeting of citizens to advocato tho cause of compulsory military training. One of tho difficulties in tho way of any Bchome of compulsory training is tho false view which a great many people have of what it means. The impression prevails with many that it means tho creation of something akin to a standing army—that tho service required of citizens will take them completely away from their ordinary duties for a considerable period of time, and so seriously interfere with their means of earning a living. Of course nothing of the kind is intended. The period of training will 'bo comparatively brief, and we have already seen the epirit in which the captains, of industry, as represented by the delegates to the Chambers of Commerce Conference, regard the proposal. They are unanimously in favour of it, and, like employers in the Mother Country, can be relied on to give their, employees every encouragement, to take up tho responsibility which rests upon each of them to equip themselves for the defence of their country should occasion requirejthem to take the field. The gentlemen who are' moving in the matter locally should, as their first stop, make clear to the public what their proposal means. ■Wβ have little doubt that if'they do this, and the matter' is properly handled, that;the movement will be. taken up with tho enthusiasm it deserves. . ■ .. . -.. ■ '..■;■.