DEFENCE OF DOMINION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 244, 9 July 1920, Page 7

DEFENCE OF DOMINION

NATIONAL LEAGUE'S AIMS

DEFINED BY GENERAL SIR ANDREW

RUSSELL 1

FOSTERING A HEALTHY

MANHOOD

An appeal to the farming community was made on behalf of the National Defence League of New Zealand at yesterday s silting of tho New Zealand Coun, oil of Agriculture. A deputation from the league awaited on tho council, headed by Goneral Sir Andrew Russell (president). Accompanying the General were Messrs. H. F. von Haast, T. Ward, andE. Muir (hon. secretary). General Russell first emphasised tho fact that the mombers of tho league wero firm advocates of supporting the Imperial Navy. They recognised that the Navy was the first line of defence of the Empire. AVitliout the Navv everything else would be in vain. It was not enough, however, to merely produce a strong Navy and then rest back on our oars. The Navy could not have won the war without the help of tho land forces. Were they to 'believe, after reading the papers, and (lipping into history, that the state- of! the world to-day was Buch that tho League of. Nations was going to relievo the Dominion of having to discharge similar obligations in tho future? For an answer they had only to look at the position of Australia, and h-sr vulnerability to attack. Would they not assume that thoy were under an obligation to help the Commonwealth in her hour of need? If they admitted this obligation they must be prepared to discharge it when tlie time arose. This could not be met by mere monetary contributions. Cost of Insurance. It should be unnecessary, added tho General, to omphosise the fact that the Air Force came just as much within the 6cope of defence as any other arm of the service. Insurance cost money They amid not produce an efficient defence scheme, including an air force, without a big expenditure. It would just about represent a day and a half to two days' work per annum on tho part of every inhabitant of the country. Ho did not see how they were going to'"get out of it," even with the expenditure of three-quarters of a mil' lion at the very lowest. One consideration was that the bulk of the money would bo spent within the country. How. ever good the present young men might be. could not we turn out something better? He believed that he might do an enormous amount of good in the Territorial ranks if we included in theh training something of a civic nature. Concluding, the General appealed to delegates to lend a helping hand to the movement on_ their return to their respective , districts, and to assist in organising branches of the 'league. Mr. von Haast followed, pointing out that the league was not militarist in any way. It looked upon the military force as a force of civilians which was to be under, the military for the purposes of training. Another, suggestion of the league was women should have far more to do w'.th the defence forco than hitherto.

The Sergeant-Major and Civics,

Mr. J. D. HsU (Hororata) asked the General if he thought it would be prni, ticable to invest sergeant-majors with the responsibility of teaching civics. So far as country boys were concerned, tho sergeant-major was either held up to ridicule or hated by his charges. "Is it not possible," he asked, "for tho league to get a more human element?" In reply, General Russell admitted that a reform, was necessary in this cohneotion, otherwise the league would fail. "We want," he declared, "something quite : different from .the ordinary .ser-geant-major," It was absolutely nece*. sarr that tho men who were in charge of Iho defence system and defence train ing should be mon of the highest quality —an absolute pattern to the youth of the Dominion. It was essential that they should be men.the boys could look' iid 'to and emulate. He agreed that under, the present system, and with Hid present material, such a thing was impossible. ■ ' , In reply to Mr. T. R. Hoddor, the General said that the Defence Depart' 'ment had had no hand in drawing up the constitution of the league. The council accorded General Russoll a hearty vote of thanks for his address,

ADDRESS TO THE SYNOD "GOOD.WILL AND BIPE JUDG- | . ' . MENT." Sir Andrew Russell also waited upon tho Wellington Diocesan Synod yesterday to enumerate tho aims and objects of tha National Defence League, and, incidentally,' to give his ideas of the truest oitizenfihip. Sir And row was accorded , a warm wef.come. Bishop Sprotfc said tint they accounted it an honour to meet and listen to ono who had rendered such distii"?uished service, in the recent war.' General Russell said he took it that ■they were men and women of intelligence, who Teadthe papers, and knew something of history, and were therefore aware of what was going on at the other end of the world; and,. indeed, in countries much nearer Now Zealand, Ho would like to say ono word on at least one obect, that was the attainment of a "White New Zealand." When the constitution of the league was being considered ho had half doubted the wisdom of including such a clause, as ho had felt that, after all, it was a "dog-in-the-manger" policy- One wanted to know what it meant. It had to bo remembered that wo hod certain living, and certain social standards which differed from those of other countries.in the Pacific. Ho, and ho took it those present, were firm believers in Tacial purity—that was something to which they should all subscribe. "An Atmosphere of Good Will." The points dealt with in the constitution did not lie with material forces, They, as much as anyone else, were concerned with reconstruction. They had read of it in every paper, and it was a subject in ©very thinking man's mind— the key to which had been so fnr hidden —apparently. Mr. Lloyd George had pleaded for "an Atmosphere of good will," and ho looked to the churches and religion to fpstcr and encourago it, (Hear! Hear!). His plea had been addressed to everyone iu the room, to everyone in tho British Empire. He was afraid he had been too busy at work on tactical problems during the Inst four or five years to give much time to devise what schemes they might adopt, but there was only one solution to the' question—they must bo better men and women. (Applause.) The work of reconstruction would.go on very easily if they commenced at that point. What was necessary to produce hotter individuals? He thought it was: First, enlightened self-interest. Ho wns afraid time human nature had a "big, dose" of self-interest What wo*} required was that it should be an enlightened solf-in-terest. Secondly, tha absolute need for religion; and, thirdly, tho need for better education—mentally, physically, and, above all, morally. (Applause.) When he was asked to take tho presidency of tho Defenco league, ho had felt that hero Was ono factor in which they could holp, for better education was one of tho chief factors in elevating mankind. All present know what wns meant by community work—for social service. Ho did not mean by merely writing cheques, but by eacli ono doing something and not paying someone oko to do it. (Laughter and applause.) Ho did not think ho had over heard of our Lord getting np a subscription list! They had to got the right ideas into men's minds, generally in- the earlier and formative years of manhood. National serrico meant— "I sorve my country," and by serving his country a man served his fellows, served them usually nt some personal sacrifico to liimsclf. Unless thcro was the element of personal sacrifico ho very much doubted tho raluo that such service 'would have What the War Taught. It was necessary in tho courso of military work, ns in Cadot and Territorial training, that men should have dull and • dreary tasks, of learning- how to hemdk

a rifle, and Low to turn to the right or left, but they learned a good many otlier things—to work together, to value leadership; to put themselves out of the way for othor peoplo. and not to run away from danger, The man, too, who had bean to,tho front had learned the value of sanitation. That he should have brought back a better idea of olcanliness in himself nnd his house was a good thing, was it not? Until they prod uoed lit and physically clean men they would havo a pretty good Mil to climb before they could create much montally or spiritually, Acstheticism usually went with dirt. (Laughter.) There was now no reason why any member of the clergy should appear with unbrushed hair, and dirty, as was- the enso in Eastern countries, where dirt was synonymous with religion. They hnd all heard of tho bad language anil filthy teachings that tho young men had got in the camps If they would believe him that sort of thing had been brought into camp, and very likely fostered and encouraged in camps. If they got half a dozen lads of that kiwi they had tho bud tendency of infecting others. Perhaps it was that clean thought and decent language wus not properly appreciated in this country. Where possible they should check such ills and build up publio opinion, so that tho lads would bo taught that such faults were unworthy of them. One must either grow weeds or flowers—if they had to grow something, let them grow |owers and get rid of the weeds. (Applause.) Ho know it was a difficult thing. In speaking to officers of tho staff ho hod made no bones about what he expected of them. If every officer and n.c.o,' would set out to make himself a pattern to the boys who worked under Mm, there would not bo one parent that would not bo grateful that his or her child hod como under his influence "Over the Top," Although tho powers of evil were great, tho powers of good were infinitely greater. So that what was done in the Territorial camps must be a positive force. It was no good sitting down in the trenches—the day must come when the* must get "over tho top." They could not always sit down behind barbed-wire entanglements. They had to get up and "go over the top.": As to what might be dono in Territorial camps, he was absolutely at one with Synod whon he said that if it was not for Veligion, end all it 6tood for in national life, they would not have a hope. There were diffi-culties-grave difficulties. He was addressing an Anglican Synod, but he had many friends among the Presbyterians, many friends among the Roman Catholics, and one of their difficulties was the want of union among tho churches. There were extraordinary difficulties iu the way of getting a united expression of opinion on vital points. Ho thanked members of Synod for tho close attention they had given him. It was for his hearers, as for himsslf, to pray for, and esk for, ripe judgment iu all things. (Applause.) ' ■ ' An Insidious Force. Colonel G. Mitohell, M.P., a member of the council of the league, said that ho would like to. point out to Synod the "Insidious force" which was at work in this country trying to supplant our Hag with another. It was their duty to make it impossible for anyone to hoist the "red flag." It was the duly of every Briton to see that the Empire was maintained, strengthened, and purified, so that whon it was handed over to their sons and daughters it would be better and bigger than when they themselves received it. (Applause.) It was the duty of all men to be sound, strong, and healthy in mind and body, so that they might be able to defend tho Empiro when called upon to do so. (Applause.) As to camps, he could .claim to speak with some authority, as he had, under General Russelll, commanded large bodies of men. It was true that thore was a great deal of evil and bad language in camps, but that was largely the fault of officers. He did not say that it could be altogether abolished, but it could lie cut down to a minimum, and enmps could be mado purer than '.heir streets were at the present time. Much of the bad language was "on tho surface," and underneath'many who-- used it, almost unconsciously, were as pure as grf.d, and as good Britishers (is one could \vi6h for. (Applause.) The National Defenoa League stood for mental as well as physical training. They also thought that the introduction of women into the camps would purify the camps. His experience was ■ that if they took men away from the refining influences of home life, society and women, they became coarse, and he believed from what had been told him that the eame was the case in large bodies of women. (Laughter.) He hoped that the women would tako their full share in tho camps. They placed great faith In their General, and as they had him as their lead in war, they looked to him to lead this country in peace. The speaker looked forward to the time when General Russell would take part in the politics of the country, os it would be for the country's good. (Applause.) The Women's Part. . ' Mrs. Chatfield (Tice-presidcnt of the league) stated that one factor in the league was that it provided common ground for all phases of New Zealand society to meet upon. Hitherto such a ground had not been existent, and people grew ug not knowing what the world outside their own little set, was thinking. During the war, clubs had been set up, and in their management different sections-she deprecated the word "classes"—met and understood each other .better, with the result that real friendships had been formed. So 6he hoped that the women would seek out tho rifle clubs. Cadet corps, and Boy. Scouts nnd see that they were provided with good literature and healthy amusements. She believed in plenty of amusements—for it was the object of the women's branch of the league to do all they possibly could for their young countrymen. (Applause.) • The Bishop said they were very grateful to the delegates of the league who had 6ppken so helpfully and strongly, on an interesting eubjeot, and assured them that Synod would give earnest consideration to the matters which had been brought before them.