"ALONE I DID IT!"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2317, 26 November 1914, Page 7

"ALONE I DID IT!"

SIR J. G. WARD'S CLAIM AND THE ANSWER HISTORY GIVES In view.of Sir' Joseph Ward*s persistent '.'alone I did it" speeches on tho New- Zealand defenco system, electors will find the following history (from tho "New Zealand Herald") very- interesting:— '.- ■' ' .■■■.'■■ '■■■■.. /As Sir Joseph Ward persists in claiming a monopoly,, of credit for -the initiation of the • compulsory military training, scheme,- a' little past history may be quoted. .In his speech at Bkff/ last 'week, the.! Opposition Leader, in referring to the matter, said that his opponents "were. breaking thoir necks, twisting their .-tongues, and distorting their bodies to'claim credit for introducing a systein for which ho. was entirely responsible. 1 ?' : Sir Joseph Ward, as everyone admits, introduced the Dβfence/:Bill,;but 'was '.he "entirely responsible" P 7-.. 'During-.the session of 1908/' when he was Prime Minister and Minister'of Defence; lie -was'waited upon at -Wellington by a deputation 'from the' Farmers' Union.; in. support of compulsory trainirig.;' No deputation ever, received a more unfavourable reply- from a .upon any subject. This is , what the then -head of the Government said':—"The system of universal military training may be a great goal to work Mr, but) in a country where nine people out of every ton.eani their own living, it is, I think, impracticable. It would mako a tremendous inroad upon their daily work, and th.it is ono ■of--the- reasons that mako some- people object to such proposals as these." Continuing, he said that if the deputation, would go outside of its immediate ranks,'it would find "that there could be no Government that would carry into effect a.system of compulsory military training-in.New Zealand. The public feeling was ' far,' far too strong against it." This was Sir Joseph Ward's view at a time when the question 'was being insistently pressed- upon tho notice or the Government by the National Defence League and' others. More than once during the session of 1908, 'Mr. Massey urged the appointment of a .Parliamentary Coirimitteo to consider the matter of imivorsnl training. In reply to Such a suggestion from Mr. Massoy on August 28, 1908, Sir'Joseph--Ward said that "ho had not tho slightest hesitation in saying that if tho Government were to adopt tho 'eoiii'ss urged by a, section of the Press and by ono or two members of tho Opposition," and 'try to force on tho '■people of New Zealand a system of compulsory volunteering, tho people would not have it. Not long ago, when only a rumour was circulated that tho Government wiis attempting to introduco a system of tho kind, the country wns alivo from cud to end in vigorous opposition to it, and protests from tho North Capo to tho Muff were received. To try to forco anything of tho kind would be to give the volunteer movement a set-back." Tho movement in favour nf universal training' continued to grow, in spite of Sir Joseph Ward's cold-water douches.- 1" 'fact, the country was alivo with it from end to end. In the second session nf J OOO, Sir Joseph Ward yielded to the forco of public opinion by introducing, his ..Defence. Bill.