THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 811, 7 May 1910, Page 4

THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

' Amongst the mass of uninteresting statistics and the many slighting references '_ to his critics which form so conspicuous a. part of the Prime Minister's twenty-column speech at Winton, that portion referring to defence stands out in pleasing contrast. Sir Joseph Ward has been bjamed for his seeming 'reluctance to commit himself to Loud ' Kitchener's scheme, his delay in making a definite pronouncement on the subject having been construed • into an intention to shirk acceptance of the full ' obligations imposed by adopting the scheme in its entirety. Ho has, however, quite justified his silence by the pronouncement he has now made. He has committed his Government to an acceptance of the full v period of training prescribed by Lord Kitchener as being necessary to ensure a proper standard of efficiency in the . New Zealand defence forces, and he deserves credit

for having _ adopted a policy to which, judging from his past attitude, he is a very recent convert. Tho scheme, however, docs not involve that tremendous departure that a good many people appear to imagine. The constant use of the terms "universal" and "compulsory" have given a wrong impression as to the liability imposed on the public—even on those between the ages of 19 and 26. The scheme does not mean compulsory military training for any more than a section of those between the ages of 19 and 26. The compulsory, training is only "universal" between the ages of 12 and 18. The position can be put as follows: All boys between the ages of 12 and 14, if physically fit, must serve in the junior school cadet corps. They are then transferred to the senior cadets, in which they must serve until they reach the age of 18. Then the "universal" compulsory service ends. Tho next stage is the recruit stage. Every yoar from the whole of tho senior cadets of the colony—-on the present basis of a force of 20,000 trained men—369o of these cadets will bo transferred to tho recruits. These youths may volunteer, or failing a sufficient number of volunteers, tho balance will be. chosen by ballot. All thus transferred to tho. recruits will in the natural order of events have to pass on to the force of trained men and serve until they reach the age of 26. Senior cadets who do not volunteer and who do not fall victims to the ballot are freed from further service, though of course liable irj time of emergencv.. It wiJl

be seen, therefore, that a large proportion of the male population will be called on for no further son-ice than that, involved in membership of the school cadet, corps between the ages of 12 and IS. In another column the position is explained in greater detail and should prove reassuring to those who have had anxiety as to the lengths to which the scheme would commit the country. As a matter of fact it will mean very little change in the numerical strength of the adult forces, but those forces will bo distributed over the whole country and should be more highly trained and efficient than the volunteer forces to-day. We trust that the one point of departure from Lord Kitchener's scheme mentioned by Sir Joseph Ward will be reconsidered by Cabinet. Sir, Joseph appears to think the salaries suggested for officers too high—that New Zealand could not afford to pay what Australia can pay. This is a very shortsighted view to take. So much will depend on the men who have the carrying out of the defence scheme that every effort should be made to secure the services of the best men available. What may be saved in salaries will probably prove trifling compared with the' losses in other directions through getting an inferior stamp of officer.