METHODIST ATTACK ON DEFENCE SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1674, 14 February 1913, Page 6

METHODIST ATTACK ON DEFENCE SCHEME.

AT THE CONFERENCE. Compulsory military training was discussed at some length at tho Conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand yesterday. The subject was brought up in a motion submitted by tho lie v. Mr. M'Nicoll. Tho motion was:— ' (a) "That in view of the great advances made in tho pence movement throngh- . out tho world, and in vi o v," of the fact that the present warlike methods of settling disputes, are both non- ■ Christian and against the best interests of tho people, this conference declares itself in favour of arbitration in all international disputes."' " • (b) "We also enter our emphatic protest against compulsory military training, believing this to bo not only a serious reflection on the patriotism of the people of, this and fraught with great moral perils to our youths, but also entirely" out of harmony with Christian teaching and tho traditions of British freedom." '

Tho'Rev. Air. M'Nicoll, in moving the motion, said that we. have always been noted for'our patriotism. Take, for instance, the South African war, Now Zealand/was able to send eight or nine thousand men to Africa. Every man volunteered., Some of them told lies; they said that they were over the nee of 21 years, but in reality a Urge number were under that age, so great was their desire to get to the front. Compnlsory ; military training was most undesirable. The boys are. taken away .from their fathers' or (parents' influence, and placed practically under State, control. The State took them against their parents' wish. "You are," continued the speaker, "living in a fool's paradise. (Laughter.) There will be a revolution in tliis country. (No!- no!) iThere is a greater opposition than you think. As a Britisher, I object to* be forced to fight. I don't object to fighting. - It's the oompulsory i clause which is .at the; bottom of the whole trouble. _. . . Sir,, Joseph Ward made a great mistake in offering that Dreadnought. (Cries of "No party politics in this!") We,should get tae clause repealed at the next election." (Applause.) •> ./ ' Mr. G. YY. Leadley (Ashburton) said •that ho had much pleasure in seconding the motion. He thought that the conference would agree entirely with the first part of the motion. The time would come when the nations would seriously reconsider their positions, and there would then V great international courts of arbitration to settle all disputes. 'The sword .would .then be done , away with. ■ Continuing, the speaker stated that the people of Jfew Zealand had been tricked. The chairman stated that he dm not consider the last remark a proper one, and Mr. Leadley thereupon withdrew it. Mr. leadley went on to say that when the compulsory training scheme . was being discussed the public of New Zealand did, not understand it. Had. the matter been put to them it would,never have been made the law of the land, it tho Government of New Zealand had , spent one-half of the money which are spending on tho new defence scheme on the old volunteer system we. .would have had a very' efficient army. We could not afford to pay so muoh money away. It should be utilised in the development of the country. The speaker added: "From what I have, seen and heard about military camp life, I dread the moment when j any of my sons have to go into speaker mentioned that when in'Christchurch ho know of a parent who had .to go down to the gaol to. see his boy, who had refused to comply jflth the Act. The. son was then wearing the garb of a criminal. (Cries of 'Sliaine. ) v The Hon. G. J. Smith, M.L.C., stated tliat lio was, sony that the subject had ever come up for discussion in the conference. Ho expressed himself as being entirely in favour ofcompulsorj- military 'trainin;'. He mentidned two speakers who -had said that they would be quite agreeable to go to war if it were necessary. Well, ho asked:' What would bo the use of such men goiujf. out to fight? It would bo useless.. (Hear, ; hear.) Every man and--boy ought to be proud to take part in military training.-jParliamenVwas not asking fqr any, expeditionary force, but if necessary, we must be prepared to defend our country, nnd unless we train our men it would be nothing else than murder to take them out to fight. ■ One of those present, interrupted and eaid that it was murder as it was to take 'men to 'war; Vv/' ,

Continuing, the speaker'.said that if. there 'was n possibility of young' New; Zealanders being asked to train for war they should be proud to do so. Regarding the statements about camp life, the ' speak £t went on to say 'that things happen in camp which happen everywhere. "»Ve don't like them to happen," he. added, ■"but they do. Thcro are 'things which happen in church which, wa would not like to happen." In the streets of Christchurch on a Saturday; nigh), a young man would hear and see tnore than/ho would in camp. The standard of' Territorial camps and measurably superior to that of any of tho volunteer c.'imD9. "

The Rev. G. H. Mann differed from tho last speaker regarding the statement that tho matter should not . have, been brought up at.the conference. He considered that it was a matter of vital importance to the Church. A' six weeks' course of hard training would have , a much more efficient result than that of the "toy" army which is' being organised by compulsory training.. (Applause.) : The Rev. J. W*. Burton entered an emphatic protest 1 against compulsory training. " He considered 'that if the Government; did not tremendously modify their scheme -they would'go out. He considered, .however, that tlinr were sure to go out. The Labour party was to bo reckoned with. They carried a great- deal of weight and they objected to compulsory training. They knew that if a big strike took place and it became necessary to call the .'militia out, their own sons would bo' compelled to fight against them. The Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C., expressed himself as being entirely in favour of compulsory military training. ' When .the resolution was put to the two parts were put separately.. Tho portion (a) was carried, but the portion (b) was lost.