COMPULSORY TRAINING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1416, 17 April 1912, Page 5

COMPULSORY TRAINING.

Sir,—lt seems preposterous that a young country, with such a small male adult population should tolerate an Act on its Statute-book making military training compulsory. There are many reasons that might be advanced why this Act of coercion has been thrust upon us. In tho tirst place it was quite unnecessary. The huge expenditure authorised by Parliament, nnd still going on, is a grave mistake, and to use stronger criticism—a suicidal act. If the volunteer and cadet system had been properly fostered and encouraged, as it should 'havo been, and less interference shown, the position would be different to-day. Let us work a system on common-sense lines, leaving oiit all coercionary measures, which only engender hostility and bitterness, and riin tho expenditure part of the system within a reasonable limit, and so prevent our country's finances being squandered. It has already become a "happy hunting ground" for many would-be aspirants for positions, and somo have already left for the Old Country (at tho people's" expense) to Ipiirn the higher arts of tho ,fto-be-crealcd," coveted, high-salaried positions in the Territorial Forces. Lot the new Parliament deal with this matter as soon as it assembles, and save, the country from this needless huge extra expenditure. The burden is heavy enough to bear without this added incubus. As one of the most loyal subjects of the British Crown, a father of a large family, a citizen of many years' standing, and n Now Zealander, permit me to enter an emphatic protest in the manner already stated against tho initiation of a system which was improperly thrust upon the people of this country.—l am. etc., . LOYAL TO THE CORE. P.S.—I should not oppose a scheme on tho lines suggested, and I venture to predict that thousands of our youth would gladly join.