A STRONG PROTEST

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 15 July 1910, Page 5

A STRONG PROTEST

DEFENCE BILL CRITICISED. THE REMUNERATION OF OFFICERS. SCOPE OF TRAINING CONSIDERED INADEQUATE. A meeting of the united Men's and Women's Universal Truimng Committee was held last evening, Colonel Hume being in tho chair. The new Defence Bill was considered, and the following resolutions were carried unanimously:— "(1) That, whereas it was only after years of strenuous and self-denying efforts on the part of the pioneers of the movement for universal military training that provision therefor was adopted by Parliament last year; and whereas the prospects of national benefits in the I •way of discipline and development ol' character to be expected from such training have not been in any way diminished since the passing of the Defence Act of last year; this'committee earnestly protests against tho want of definite provision in the new Defence Bill for maintaining the universal training of young men between the ages of 18 and 21, which was provided by Section -11 of the Defence Act, 1909, and respectfully suggests that the application of so important a. principle as that of compulsory military training should be definitely fixed by the Legislature, and not left to the discretion of the Executive. "(2) That whereas in paragraph 44 of the report by Lord Kitchener, forwarded to the Prime Minister as on March 2, 1910, Lord Kitchener said:—'lf men of the right stamp are to be attracted to the corps' (i.e., the Staff Corps.of Officers) 'the pay of each rank must be good; and ij> this connection it must be remembered that the circumstances of an officer's services prevent, and rightly so, his participation in commercial ventures. For the Staff Corps to be successful, its officers must concentrate all their energies on their profession, and their pay should therefore be sufficient, not only for their keep while serving, but also to insure them a competence when retired.' "And wliereas, in paragraph 45 Lord Kitchener recommended the definite rates of pay therein' set out. This committee views with great regret the statement of the Prime Minister, in his speech at Winton on May 5 last, that the Government proposed to make 'some slight alterations I tn respect to the suggested rate of pay of the higher officers,' and that the Government considered 'that 'the amount of remuneration suggested (i.e., by Lord Kitchener) r\*as somewhat in excess of what a 'small country like New Zealand should be expected to give.' And, further, this committee feels satisfied that the • country would gladly pay ' several times oyer the small amount that could bo saved in this way rather than attempt to alter so vital a part of Lord Kitchener's scheme." "(3) That with reference to the proposal to train a quota only of the young men between the ages of 21 and 30 in the general training section and in the Reserve, this committee is satisfied thiit.no system of selection by ballot or otherwise will be satisfactory which does not provide for some equivalent service by those young men not comprised in the quotas." Great dissatisfaction was expressed with the new Court of Appeal proposed in the •'■ill, the opinion boing that all that was required could be attained by the adoption of the procedure in the Territorial Forces at Home, and a sub-committee, was set up to draft amendments to the Bill and report to a later meeting.