VITAL PRINCIPLE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 245, 10 July 1920, Page 8

VITAL PRINCIPLE

♦ FOR NATIONAL DEFENCE EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE IN WAR-TIME GENERAL RUSSELL ADDRESSES COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS Equality of sacrifice in war-time was one of the several cardinal principles enunciated by General Russell in the course of an address to members of the Commercial Travellers' Club yesterday on the aims ajid objects of the National Defence League. The General was accompanied by Air. J. P. Firth (vice-president of the league), and Messrs. E. Muir (secretary), AY. W. Perry, and 11. V. Marshall. Mr. A. H. (Joss -was in tho chair. The General's Addreii. General Russell dealt first of all with the question whether a defence league was now necessary. He pointed «ut that tho Pacific was likely to be tho centre of the next world conflagration. The storm-centre was travelling eastward, not westward. 'While admitting that the Navy was thv: first and foremost line of defence, he stated that land forces were inseparable from any system of defenea. Jt therefore behoved the Dominion to bo ready to play ito part so that it might faithfully discharge its obligations when' the call came. One clause in the league's constitution stipulated that tho league should not be used, either -Jirectly or indirectly, in any industrial dispute. The objects of the league were outlined by the speaker, who went on to point out that it was essential _that New Zealand should not rely as in tie past on receiving its necessary war equipment and ammunition from the Old Country nt the eleventh hour. "A Dreary Rouna." The Defence Department, he said, had come in for nn enormous ■ amount of criticism because it had been asked to undertake- a great deal of work with which it had Tcally nothing to do. Territorial training should not merely bo a dreary round of sloping arms and tho like. It should include the teaching of young fellows to : look after themselves, and some attention should be given to the moral 6ide. Training' camps provided a great opportunity for all classes of the community to rub shoulders, with each other, and in this way many illogical social barriers could be broken down. The' Defence League movement was entirely an educational .one. Its mission was to back up tho Government and its experts in persuading tho people* to look upon the defence of their country as a thing of national importance, affecting every man' who lived in New Zealand. Granting that preparedness was essential, we should bo prepared to pay for it. The only people tho ieaguo was • out against were ibose who were opposed to national defence. It owed allegiance to no party. The Dominion should be given an, opportunity of consulting with the Mother Country, to enable them to explain their views and wishes and to bo consulted when war was mooted. A Cardinal Point. Dealing with the question of equality of sacrifice, General Russell said that there were many soldiers who on , returning to the Dominion found tiiomsqlves at a disadvantage on account oi the material sacrifices they had made, We should keep before ourselves the principle that the economic sacrifice made by Ihoso who went to tho front ought to be- equaljsed and minimised so far as possible. He cited tho case of a 6oldier who on leaving Jur overseas sold his farm lor £ils per acre. On his return, being unablo to procure land, under' tho Government scheme at a suitable price, he purchased back his own farm at ••63710s..per'acre-a fifty per cent, advance. "I heed not gay," added the General, "that that soldier scratched his head and asked himself where lie came in." How to get over this difficulty was a puzzle. The application oi the principle would undoubtedly hil 6omo who lemained at home, but people should bo educated up to tho point oi being prepared to accept tho principle of equality of economic sacrifice. Tc this end the league had recently inserted the following clause in its constitution:. While recognising that no sacrifice by non-combatants can equal the sacrifice necessarily made by soldiers on service, the league affirms the principle of equality of economic sacrifice in war-time as applicable to all citizens- of tho Dominion, whether soldiers or non-combatants. Women's Part. Another point.stressed by General Rus sell was that the league considered thai wonien should be given tho fullest opportunity of playing their part in anj Bchemo of national defence. In the Great War it was admitted on all sides that wherever women war-workers were to be found a better and cheerier at mospliero prevailed. .-.Very likely thi: influence in our Territorial camps' woult have the .same excellent results. . The league therefore wanted, so far as possible, to enlist the sympathy of the women of New Zealand and afterward: their help. Coming to school Cadets, General Bussell.6aid he thought'-it would, be a &real pity to teach anything with the lcasi tinge of militarism to the boys in om schools. What was really wonted ir the schools was- a -system under whicl the boys would learn- to work in concerted bodies and learn obedience. The military training should be left to the Territorial camps. The school 6yllnbu; was already overburdeneel. Lastly, General Russell poinded out that it would be impossible to train officers unless Territorial camps were held, at- which they could learn manoeuvres and obtain experience in training an;' handling men. In this connection one of the difficulties, of the American Armj when it went over to Prance was thai it had: never had a trained staff. Mr. J. P. Firth briefly addressed the gathering. General Russell was accorded a heart) vote of thanks for his aeldress, and oil leaving the room .ho was loudly cheered,