MEETING AT PETONE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 526, 5 June 1909, Page 7

MEETING AT PETONE.

A meeting of the supporters of the movement to establish compulsory military training was hold in the Oddfollows , Hall.'Petone, and was attended by about thirty men. The Mayor. (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan), who presided, stated that tho promoters of the meeting wore anxious that their efforts should be backed up by all who wore of the opinion that universal milita-ry training was hotter than tho present scheme. Mr. R. C. Kirk, who was to speak, had long been interested in volunteering, and as Captain of the Petono Navals for many_ years," had worked up that corps to an' efficient state. Mr. Kirk reforred to the "famous mooting in Wellington," which he believed had effectually drawn public attention to' the movement. It would ,be necessary that their forces should be collected, in order that a strong and unanimous petition should be presented to the Government, and that was the reason of tho holding of so many moorings simultaneously throughout tho Dominion. In this way: the; Prime , Minister .'would get the load,, they believed he was. waiting Tor from'. the people. Mr". Kirk referred: to tho Militia Act, now in ' force, under which all males, up to the ago of 55' years, could bo called out to bo trained for service. As far as his recollection went, that Act had never Joen brought into operation, although thero had been considerable stir some years back when the relations of the Empire with Russia were strained. In the last report of Colonel Oavies, .the volunteer system was shown to be unreliable mease of emergency. His own experience of volunteering;had been favourable, for _he had been connected with what was considered the most officient branch of the; service,, the-.Garrison Artillery. Still, volunteers could not attain efficiency in the dnlshed. Without field manoeuvres theV could never Lbo taught :the proper use of their weapons. -Moreover, employers were not always willing to allow employees time C « iS* 1 ! 1 P ur P° sc ?. and volunteers werO often loth to forego their pay during military camps. This was one of the great drawbacks of the system.. About 80 per.cent..'of those who became volunteers were, hardworking men, whereas tho class -w-ho : might : more easonably be.expected;to show patriotism preferred to follow their own amusements. Many unpromising youths joined volunteer corps simply, out of curiosity .'and out of a desire to be associated with "tho other fellow, but there were many. instances of such young fellows having been trained to good purpose. In the past ho had been enthusiastic over rifle-shooting, wbioh lie hoped would become the national pastime, seeing that it could be carried on air the year round. He moved: 'That this meeting considers that notwithstanding tho enthusiasm of the volunteers, the voluntary system does not provide adequate means of defence, and therefore asks the Government to introduco a system of universal military training of the young

Mr. W'.G. D. Evans seconded, the motion which-' was carried, after considerable discussion. ..'..■■ •••■•-.••