MILITARY TRAINING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1411, 11 April 1912, Page 5

MILITARY TRAINING.

l\W TO BE ENFORCED. MINISTER'S EMPHATIC PROMISES. 3. SATISFIED DEPUTATION. The compulsory provisions of the Do fence Act and the best menus of enforcing them were discussed yesterday moraing between the Hon. A. M. livers, Minister of Defence, and <i large deputation represent ng the Wellington Citizens' Defence League. Mr. \V. Frasor, 31.P., introduced the deputation, which comprised about twenty-five persons, half of them being ladies.

Mr. Trascr said the deputation had viewed with alarm what appeared to bo a loosening of the reins of government iu regard lo the enforcement of the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act. The introduction of the volunteer system many years ago was hailed with enthusiasm, which, However, did not last, and tliose who had expected that it would provide a valuable means of defence were grievously disappointed. The volunteer system mid become costly and inellicieiit, but the I'undiimental reason of its failure was its voluntary character, and the necessity of compulsion had been demonstrated. To inflict fines and then not enlorcc their payment would only bring the iuw inlo contempt, and would impose compulsion upon (lie law-abiding only. He submitted that the rights of citizenship should be granted to those only who would curry out its duties. The Conscientious Objector. _ The Hon. R. A. Loughnan, M.L.C., said it must be a source of satisfaction to the Minister to see haw well the obligations of the Defence Act had been discharged to far, by 85 per cent, of those liable to train, and how efficiently and zealously the ollicefs had carried out their duties. "\\<i were now on the way to having an effective army of 200,000 men.. The system'couid be made as perfect as was possible for a system on the present lines. In view of the assertions of those who misunderstood the position, he thought it well to repeat that there was no obligation to serve outside New Zealand under the Act. As for the conscientious objector, conscience was all on the side of willingness to die iu the defence of one's country. "A Feeling of Uneasiness," Mr. A. R. Atkinson remarked thnt to say that the law was compulsory, but that those . liable need not lx< trained unless they ,; wished was a position to which they felt sure the Minister would uot be. a party. Nevertheless there was a foaling of unensi- . ness abroad, owing to tlie pressure that .was being brought lo bei.r upon the Government. The deputation thought the boys who were imnrisolned for non-pay-ment of the fines should be kept free of all criminal taint, and he suggested I hat the Government had power to vary the terms of imprisonment., so that there should be no taking of finger-prints or anything of that sort. Disfranchisement and d'isqualification for Public Service employment, though serious, were not sutficiient deterrents, because they did not operate immediately, lie also suggested thai; there might be. some civil process, apart from imprisonment, for enforcing iiayment. Possibly also parents could be dealt, with as aiders and abettors, and organisations formed, as they had ljeen, deliberately to counsel young men lo break the law, might be dealt with. The Act had had i) 5 per cent, of success, and they hoped it would be carried on lo complete success, (Applause.) The Women's View. Dr. Platts Mills raid that women welcomed the Act thsit would cause their sons to be trained to defend their country, and were alarmed at the possibility of the system being defeated by Socialist agitation. (Applause.) She was glad that her own two sons would be ready to defend their country. Mr. J. P. Lifke, speaking as an employer of labour, _ warmly supported the Act. "I believe, sir," said he to the Minister, "that you are going to face this position like n man. 1 'sliull be veiy niuch surprised if you don't." (Applauso.)

THE MINISTER'S REPLy.; AN ENTHUSIAST FOR THE ACT. The Minister expressed his gratification at niectiug so large and representalive' a deputation, including so many ladies. He had heard their remarks with great in- ' terest, but Mas somewhat surprised to hear '. thein expressing anxiety about the Defence Act. The Act was on the Statute Book, • and yet tho deputation had thought it [ necessary to urge him that it .should bo carried out. He had not desired to assume tho duties of Defence Minister, he' cause ho had considered that his time, would be fully occupied with other portfolios, but he was enthusiastically and earnestly in favour of compulsory training, and not'hiug would give him greater pleai sure to look back upon than making a ! success of the scheme. He thought, there need be no doubt about its.success. When thev considered the numerous difficulticß incidental to the introduction of any new' system, and the keenness that had already been shown in the initial stages, he thought they had good reason for sincere congratulation. "So long as I am Defence Minister." continued MY. Myers, "it is clearly my duty, and I recognise it, to see that the law is carried out. I received many tolcp.ranis from different parts of tho county on this subject just after I was appointed, and my reply to them all was that I intended to see the law enforced. I have no option in the matter, and so long us I am Minister for Defence you may be assured that, whatever the law is, *o tar as it comes within my province, it will be carried out." The Question of Imprisonment. It. was not the intention of the Legislature, the Minister added, that disobedience to (ho Act should involve imprisonment. It involved a fine, and if,the linn was not paid, the ordinary tivil- process of the law stepped in., and imprisonment followed. The majority of (hose imprisoned had served their sentences. Mr. A. K. Atkinson: How many have there been altogether? Tho Minister: So far as Lydcltoir is coneerncd--wh'jre nearly all the trouble has been—three have, paid their fines, three have served their hill sentences, two are now serving sentences, white so far as ten others wcre'concorncd, they were sentenced lo terms cf i'our to seventeen days' imprisonment, and the Government did remit portions of tlioso sentences. It was not the intention of the Legislature that imprisonment should follow, but there is no alternative. Every man who is fined, and who refuses to pay, is going to bo imprisoned. I want to make that perfectly clear. Every' man who does not do Iris duly by registering must be fined. When tho Government found that there was no alternative, it was considered that, provided tho law was carried out, in so far as a portion of the sentence was served, they would be justified in remitting the remainder of the Sentence. I want you lo clearly understand- (hat every man whose sentence has been remitted, hod served a portion of it. No Suspension of the Low. Xo doubt, fhe Minister added, an amendment of the lnw was desirable, so as lo impose a penalty other than imprisonment. Ho was clad to have Mr. Atkinson's suggestion as to tho Australian, method. He thought disfranchisement and disqualification for the Civil Service would be Elective, when it was generally recognised that a ,-Mileneo carried with it . those disabilities. "Ths laiv has not been suspended, and it will not be suspended. 1, as Defence Minister, will see it carried out. Von need not have any misgivings at all. The Act is a wise ono, and the present Government is in sympathy wifh it, and is'going lo do everything possiKitu make it an unqualified success. (Aplnuse.) Knowing that the whole Emp* will look to New Zealand to see bow '' Act succeeds, you may be sure llm 1 ■ are fully alive to our responsibililKhope I shall bo able, lis Minuter fcr ' fence, to inform tho Home anther (hat (he system has passed (lie rsr-• mental stage, and is an unqualified mi. cess in every wny." (Applause.) Mr. Eraser, in thanking the Mini-lcr. sniil. "We .shall all leave I his room very much mora salisflcd than when we entered it." An anti-militarist deputation will bo Introduced to the Minister bv Mr. 1.Robertson, M.P., at 11 a;w, to-day.