MILITARY TRAINING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1398, 26 March 1912, Page 6

MILITARY TRAINING.

REPORT OF LOCAL COMMITTEE. GOVERNMENT ARANDONS A PRINCIPLE. Tho following is the annual report of the United 3loii's and Women's Public Committee set up in connection with and in favour of universal military training for the past year:— I. Following on tho movement throughout the Kinpire to better the" Empire's defences by strengthening the Xavy, there was held in Wellington, on April 'l'J, 1!IO!1, a. public meeting of .supporters of a .system of universal military training. ' A. resolution was pastel urging iliu Uovernment to institute such a svsllmii, and -i i-onunittec wus set. up to arrange for hold-

ing muss meeting. ". Tlio committee collected information and curre-spontled with others interested in tho matter in various parts of tho country. It was nfiorileil the opportunity by the Wellington Trades ami Labour Council of wailing upon Hint body and explaining its reasons in supporting the system. It issued two broad sheets, one containing extracts from opinions of Labour ami Socialist leaders, and the other a reprint of one of the principal of tho Clarion articles at that time. Jt reprinted a largo part of a lecture on tho need for discipline and organisation by Colonel Ji. 11. J)avies, late Inspector-Gen-eral in New Zealand, and now in command of a Brigade at Aldershot. Early m 3lay the committee took an active part in nssisting the New Zealand Executive of Iho .National Defence League to inaugurate tho tour which tho lion E Jl'Nnb was so public-spirited as to make. As is well known, he met wii.li almost unanimous support. He is deserving of our warmest thanks. His tour was most opportune, and had a marked effect in maturing and voicing public opinion. 3. The mass meeting in Wellington was held on May 13. Peeling ran high. An adverse amendment was moved, and though we were in a majority, the meeting finally broke up in disorder. 4. On June 2 a public meeting of women was held, and a committee set up to act with the .Men's Committee. The joint committeo now comprises: Alisscs Duncan and Richmond, 3tesdames A. It. Atkinson, ,1. Raukino Drown, W. A. Evans, J. P. Firth, P. C. I'reeth, 11. P. Johnston, J. p. Luke, liobert 31'Konzie, D. .1. .Nathan, M. J. Heardon, S. A. Rhodes ami P. W. Kutherford, Hon, T. W. iiislop, Lieut.-C'olouel Hume, 31essrs. A. R. Atkinson, S. A. Atkinson, J. G. W Dalryniple, P. G. i'reeth, H. C. Kirk, J. I'. Luke, liobert M'Kcnzie, and W 11. Walton.

i>. The committee has found that in practice this number is unwieldy, and it suggests that the meeting consider tho desirability of reducing the number for tho 'future. ,

6. The balance-sheet is circulated herewith. Owing to the timely and substantial assistance, of a number of supporters of tho movement, the committee was enabled in October, 1910, to wipe- off its deficit and to carry forward a substantial balance for future work. Our hearty thanks are due lo the.-re supporters and to all workers and subscribers for their help.

7. On June i, in conjunction with meetings of the National Defence League in other parts of the country, tho committee held meetings of supporters at Worser Bay, Newtown, Kelburne, Thomdon, and Petone. On Juno 25 a similar meeting was held at tho Hutt.

8. At and after the meetings of Juno I the committee circulated a petition embodying the resolutions passeii, urging tho Government to instituto a system of universal military training. 9. Tho Prime Minister attended tho Imperial Defence Conference in the middle of the year, and shortly after his return tho Government announced its adoption of tho principle of universal military training.

10. When the Bill was introduced, tho timo at tho disposal of Parliament was very short, and accordingly the committee offered no criticism. Tho Bill passed, and took effect on December 2-1, 1909, but its action was suspended pending the receipt of Lord Kitchener's report. 11. After the publication of that report, on March 10, 1910, tho committee persistently endeavoured !o secure its adoption in itscntirety. To that end it passed resolutions l and circulated petitions to tho Government. Subsequently it issued two reports, which were sent to some fifty-sis'daily papers in the larger towns, and to the members of both Houses of Parliament.

12. The Defence Amendment Act, giving tlio Government power to atlopt Lord Kitchener's scheme, was passed by Parliament in October, 1910. A compromise upon Hie age limit itaj arrived at, no training being attempted of those young men then over 21.

18. Tha Government has for the present abandoned the. principle of training all the young men. There can be no doubt that one of the chief reasons for the universal support accorded to the- new scheme was that it was to make no distinctions, and that all alike would bo trained. The balance-sheet shows receipts amounting to .£llO 19s. id., and expenditure to the amount of ,£BB 2s. lid., leaving a credit balance of JC3I lGs. sd.