MILITARY TRAINING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 516, 25 May 1909, Page 8

MILITARY TRAINING.

A "NO CONSCRIPTION" MEETING. DEMONSTRATION ARRANGED. A meeting of those opposed to compulsory military training was held last night for tile purpose of making arrangements for a puhJic demonstration. Mr. P. J. O'Regan prosided over an attendance of fifty. Tho chairman remarked, in connection with tho objects of tho meeting, that it bad been asked whom they represented. They represented that vast body of opinion which was givon no expression through' the press, but which, nevertheless, would make itself.felt if conscription was referred to a plebiscite. It was urged that compulsory military training was' not conscription, but that argument was used by those in favour of the latter system. Ho considered it unworthy of a democracy to be scared by a big headline to a cablegram. The British nation had reached its present position without the odious conscription, and it should be opposed now. .Mr. W. S. Bedford moved steps bo taken to'hold a public meeting in ordor to voice the feelings of those who aro opposed to compulsory military training." The mover deprecated " scares," which, he- eaid, were directly got up by capitaliste and the military class. By capitalists he referred to men on tho Stock Exchange, not those with a small capital. Those ho referred to never earned a shilling by the product of any commodity, butJby the necessities of nations, and theso men were causing the scare at tho present time. Tho military class' had to heap getting up a fight occasionally to justify their existence—(laughter)—and they we're always to bo found on the side of any scare. Did anyone think, he asked, that tho King of England ■' had any personal animosity against his nephew tho Kaiser? : In seconding tho motion, Comrade Dowdall said that he did so because all compulsion interfered with the liberty of. the _ subject. He objected to young men being withdrawn from their employment between the ages of 18 and 21, when they were.lcarninp; atrado. "If I am called upon to serve," ho added; "they may get my body, but not alive. , ' ■ Mr: Black believed in" efficient military training, but not compulsory military training. Ho ;had been a conscript for. three years, and that was tho reason why he camo to an English country. Conscription meant corruption; that was tho cause of tho nonsuccess of tho Russian army. Ho asked a conscript once why ho wont to war, and ho received the reply: "So that I can shoot that fellow," 'pointing to an officer. (Laughter.l Tho sneaker went on to express the.oninion thfit the' scare was brought about to save tho country from the enemy inside, not outside. The enemy inside, ho added, was tho working man. • ". ; .- , ■■ Mr. : W.'.T. Young said that the advocates of compnlsory training did not fully e. plain tho Federal policy when quoting it here. Compulsory military training'-,was only a stopping-stono, and, when they got to that, tho movers would never stop until thoy arrived at the position which obtained under the.flag of Russia or Germany. ' In putting tho motion, Jfr: O'Regan stated that anyone holding opposite, views would bo allowed to speak at tho moctins;. ; ' The motion was carried unanimously, and a committee nas.sot. up to make the nccesshrv arrangements for tho demonstration, which is to be held at tho Town Hall at a. date to bo decided upon. ' # : • , In renly to a question, tho chairman stated thnt other cities had been communicated with for. the purpose, of: arranging similar meetings! ;. :.....■..■.':. ■■;■.. ■■...■•'

MR. M'NAB'S CRUSADE.. tBT TBLEGttirn—ri!ESs ASSOCIATTOX.J ; . Clirlstohuroh, May 24. Mr. R.M'Nab addressed an' audience which- completely filled the Choral Hall tonight, on tho question of fcho defence- pi tho Dominion. In tho courso of his speech, he advocated universal military training, and he was listened to attentively throughout, ' and frequently ■ applauded. At the conclusion there was continued '.applause. ..and oheere. Tho speaker did not submit a motion to the audience'on thq_ of his address, but-: a very enthusiastic voto of thanks was accorded him, on tho motion of Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. J. G. Smith. The Mayor (Mr. ,C. Allison) presided, and, on tho platform, woro a number of City Councillors and prominent volunteer officers. Mastcrton, May 24. A good deal of interest is being manifested locally in tho approaching visit to Masterton of Mr. K. M'Nab, who is going to speak on the question of universal military. training. A representative committee has been set up to make" arrangements.