THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1253, 9 October 1911, Page 5

THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

ITS RELAXATION DISCUSSED, AUCKLAND VIEWS. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, October 8. The discussion in tho House of Representatives "regarding compulsory military training, in tho course of which statements v&ro inado by t'ho Minister which point to a relaxation in tho enforcement of tho original scheme of defence, caused an, Auckland reporter .'-to--'.inquire as to tho views of people on both sides of the question. Several of those interviewed expressed themselves decidedly in favour of enforcing compulsory military training; others were..-in favour of reverting to tho volunteer system .with nioro encouragement than "was formerly given to that movement. One gentleman, who saw service during tub' Maori' War, was emphatic in his statement that, whilo drill was good for the boys, ho objected to men being compelled to serve. Ho added: "it over danger.arises tliero will bo no difficulty in getting tho men to turn "out, especially whon they were drilled as boys." Strict Enforcement Urged, Mr. C. J. Parr, when seen upon the matter, said: "I have very strong ideas about this matter of defending one's country, 1 hare always held that if.a country is worth living in, it is worth defending against possible attack. Tho man who says that wo are imiuuno irom invasion in these days when international -combinations may chango in an hour, must bo written down as a fool: Within tho past month Groat Britain has been, on the verge of a great European war, nud had it broken out then we should havo to look to ourselves to defend our country. In Australia. I found they Wore very strong for compulsory military training. In fact, they recognised tho need for universal compulsory military training. What is still more significant to my mind, is that tho Labour party of tho Commonwealth is the strongest in favour of military training. I therefore view with positive alarm tho possibility of tho Government so whittling away our defence scheme that it will becomo practically worthless. I hopo means will bo found to secure tho strict enforcement of the Act. Personally I do not consider that tho Act goes far enough. I would like to seo universal compulsory training ,of all men up to 45 or 50 vears of age, and would bo quito willing to put in a fortnight myself at tho work, recognising it to be a duty wo all owo to our country. Cod help our country if the defence of it is to bo left to tho peace-at-aw-prico p.arty." Anti-Militarist President. Mr, J, Morris, president of tho AntiMilitary Training Association, said: "This practically justifies tho position wo havo taken op in objecting to compulsory military training. I can speak on this matter on behalf, not only of tho AntiMilitary Association, hut also of tho Society of friends. Although I am not a Quaker, still 1 am in closo touch with the members of that faith hero. Speaking purely from a secular point of view of tbo question so far as the defence of ' Now Zealand is concerned, it must be evident that. with a coastline of 4300 miles, and oil tho big cities on tho waterfront, any defenco must bo naval rather than military. • 1 understand that wo havo one ammunition factory in New Zealand (and even that docs not mnke tho mark 4 required for tho Lee-Motford ritle). Therefore, if Auckland was occupied by an enemy, tho rest of tho country would bo without ammunition, which emphasises my statement that defenco must be naval rather than military. Ono of tho groat evils of military training is herding tho young men together in camps, but, apart from that point of view, wo hold that everything points to tho break-ing-down of militarism altogether. In tho franco-Prussian War .of 1870, . tho winner had tbo of prepiiro'di l ness, bnt that kind of thing cannot occur again as no nation under the system now in voguo will bo, caught that way again, as is shown by the immense armaments of tho nations of Europo to-day. Great Britain, franco, and Germany having immense commercial interests, cannot afford to g0... to war, though,- of course* countries like- Italy and Turkey, which havo no credit, can afford that luxury. We can sefi'iio 'reason why, when militarism is passing away,' New Zealand should depart from tho system that has been satisfactory for. the last forty years, and enforce universal military training."