THE DEFENCE ACT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 20 April 1912, Page 14

THE DEFENCE ACT.

Sir,—A few days ago you commented favourably in your editorial columns upon tho reply of the Minister for Defence to the deputation of anti-militarists who waited upon him demanding the repeal of the compulsory' clause in the Act. You praised Mr. Myers's answer as being "firm," and you say ho is a "strong man" of the Wardism-Mackenzie clique. I am surprised at your credulity. You must bo a very superficial observer if you don't see the way that the Government is undermining tko law in the same manner in which they have broken down tho whole of .its Labour, legislation. It shows that vou have not the experience of tho perfidious "party of humbug," to quote. Mr. T. Mackenzie, that wo have had. Mr. Myers promised to repeal, the penalty of imprisonment fcr non-registration and failuro to pay fines. What does he propose to-substitute? Absolutely nothing. Tho other penalties, disfranchisement and exclusion from tho Civil Service, are not. deterrents in any sense. A glanco at the electoral rolls proves the very largo numbers of apathetic indifferent men who put no value on the franchise, who won't even vote at generjil elections when a conveyance is provided for them. As for exclusion from the Civil Service, tho fact is that there is not evon standing room to-day in the Service. The failure of tho Ward Government placo all its hungry henchmen in a sinecure was one of the factors in its downfall. The repeal of imprisonment will induce thousands of young men who are now in the Territorials to desert the Tanks, and tho scheme, like all other inventions, of a decayed "Liberalism," will collrfpse like a burst balloon. I would suggest the_ entire repeal of the ; Act, and a reversion to a voluntary scheme. .Wo have no objection to any. defenco .system provided it rests upon a Voluntary basis. We believe defence to be a necessity. We have at least our lives to protect. We have no sympathy with abuse of General Godley, who has administered an unworkable Act in a most tactful manner; and we have no doubt that if ho could ventilate his opinion that ho would prefer a voluntary scheme, with an extended age-limit, which

would givo him willing soldiers in place of contumacious .youths, whose - heart is not in the cause, and who are not an acquisition-to the movement — I am, etc., F. W. BUIiKE.