DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 302, 15 September 1920, Page 7

DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

DISCUSSION BY PRESBYTERY

. —; 1 LANGUAGE IN THE CAMPS LONG PERIOD OF TRAINING OPPOSED The question of military training was discussed at length by tlio Wellington l'resbytery last night, and a resolution was adopted strongly opposing any proposals involving lengthy periods in-camp for youths under Z1 years of aEc. A deputation from tile National Defence Jjeague waited on the l'rcsbytery to point out tlie objects of the league. Dr. J. S. Elliott, tho Urßt speaker,, stated that the league was utterly opposed to militarism and aggression. All that the league asked was that tho citizens should receive a sufficient amount of military training to enable tlieni, if called upon, to act in defence of tliecouutry. Xiie league did uot stand for any prolongo<l period of training in camp, and was willing to lcavo, to experts the question as i ' oleu ® le P er ' o d of training should be. fhQ league desired to have all bad influences eradicated from the camps, slaving had experience of many camps, no s°mi .i tay HS f ' lc resu '& °f military arm the young incn had been much benefited m body, and, lie thought also, in mind.

6 '- ® na fleld urged that by having woio1? " 10 camps wholesome'influences e °tiia bo exerted on the youths. After the deputation had withdrawn, tho 11. J Comrio moved a lonn resolution to tho effect that tile Presbytery \vas strongly opposed to any proposals which involved lengthy periods of military-train-IJL ln m l am l ,s f pr youths under 21 years of age. Ihe resolution submitted that militarism was contrary to.the spirit of Jesus, wft s? Browing sentiment of Anglo-Saxon peoples. That preparation for war was no preventive of war, but rather 1 I K™ r f e > an<l ""j l ' 'he surest dcfenco TrrS&JH mo ? rc i s ' as tUe Lord »;,.S r/ tin Boomed tho nations on Sf' also, suggested that character, health, and intelligence were Che ShrPfW 3 th ? ""ailing, of a soldier, and that right habits of living might be nF remedied and ecneial illness sccured better bv care and ™ l r^ n childhood than in /oungVan shouiilTTh 0, h0 ) r ?J° lutiou Ul 'e° d emphasis fn™ i on eugenics,,housing, livISnn i i e ducatioii, far mora 4 5 of military drill and' tho techniquo of the weapons of war and i. ap(l editions should be K M J WoUia Bet and keep the fession u, W0 ? 0n f n tho teaching proof s rvA M»7 K ' s^'},,Saas ' ; ii tamii Jat ltlx a moral, healthy. and #lrin n J'manhood purely miiitnrv mum e L y -> "du£ed to a minilenethy^ermda'^camp3 b ° D ° Deei for

influenoe of the Instructors, suits s try wiraonil 81, erej10w before the counsosals tS? L a "? endmsnts of those ProKii speaker was opposed to prothink tw™? 1 m I)ecaUße ' is did not hSta? «, d coadu «> to the moral benefit of the community. Ho said with- ?>? ti! 66 on t ' le greatest moral ovil i£a w cam ? 8 duru l& the war clime from IW?w tu®' io hat Buarnntee had f tnr» ' °f B ., would be Afferent in the future, even if they did have women in ininrnv? P f E i, l d a fortni 2''t in camp improve the moral condition of tho boys rather than suitable instruction all the the year round? He l.elieved that they could improve the physical condition of the youth of the country by improving their surroundings in the towns, and bv continuing educational facilities beyond the present school age. They Bhould try to foster better conditions in the homes, bccaulse that wa3 the surest way of improving the morality of tho rising generation. The Presbyterian .Church had at , Am ys s 'ood for (ducation and training. Officers could be trained in a compara.tively short space of time, and to be prepared for war it was not necessary to have camps. The officers who hid como to the front in the Inßt war were not professional soldiers, lut men who had character and ability. Waß the. Ohurch going to take a stand along material lines, or was it going to devote its attention to the spiritual side of life? Their sure defence was the Lord of Hosts, and they must place their trust in Him. England and Australia did not proposo to concentrate youne men in camps, and he knew of no British community which was .making military training the strong point of its defence system. Australia was spending tlie most of its defence vote on the Navy, and not on training young men.

The Rev.' R. Jnglis seconded the motion. The deputation had omitted to state what safeguards it proposed 111 regard to the evils that existed in camps. Ho had a good deal of correspondence from men who had been in camp, and if one-tenth cf tho statements containod therein were true, then it was time the Government intervened In the moral interests of the men, The 'present Territorial canipß were a farce, because they appeared to be too short, and officers during the war had preferred to reeeivo men for training who had had no previous military experience. The conditions under Which young people wero being brought up wero not ideal, and should they not address themselves to raising the moral standard of tho nation, for that- would be a sure preparation for Bound defence?. In his opinion the only way thev could effect an improvement in tho fctato of. the # world was to cultivate a spirit cf good-will amongst men

Plea for Voluntary System. The Rev. J. H. MaclCenzie said lie agreed with what had been_jaid about the camps. It was said that women would ciert a good influence in the cauips, but tie believed they would not visit the camps very ol'ten, and he did' not think they would be able to ffo much good in the way of preventing tho use of bad language and indulgence in evil practices. He thought soma system of defence should Ikj establishe'l, and he favoured naval and air preparation, At tho same tlrno the young men should receive some training, and to that end he moved the follow'ng amendment •—"That this Presbytery loyally supports tho view that the country ought to be defended against any anil every attacking foe, but, whereas tho military spirit Is out of harmony with the spirit of tho_Cfospel of Christ, no time, energy., or finance should be expended in preparation for war beyond what is ab solutely necessary; ans, inasmuch as it Is possiMo to give physical drill in the public schools iu military terms without injury to tho pupils, and also among senior boys to form cadet corps that will not bo in conflict with their other duties; and. whereas a voluntcci- system, liberally dealt, with, would .attract a large proportion of our young men aud prpvido for the present a sulliQient military nucleus against a time of danger, this Presbytery strongly deprecates file sotting up of any extensive and expensive Defence Department." llr. M'Kenzie said that children could bo drilled on military lines in tho schools and their business and industrial training would not be interfered with. Tho voluntary training system would liavo linen, n success had the authorities not deliberately starved it in order to bring about a change tothc compulsory system, Every man moUH be ready to uefend hl3 country, but a volunteer forco would provide a suitable nucleus in thu event of danger arising In the future. Mr. A. Clyiuio seconded the amendment. Speaking as an cx-soldier, lie stated that swearing in cdmps stopped when tho padstw wore about. Ho regarded it as essential that they should train young men against the use of bad language, .

Tho Hev. E. If. Oatherwood hoped tlio Presbytery would not allow it to go forth that it was oommitted to a policy of uonresistftneo. That would bo tho impression gained if the proposal mado by Jlr. Oomrio wcro carried. What they wanted was Bauo preparation, for they know that in 1914 if Britain had had a million trained men Germany would never have struck. Much was said about bad language in camps. but was the languaffc learned in tho camps? No. Tho men who used bail laueuatre in camp were godless before they entered camp. Nothing too strong could he said about the language that wns used by many of tho instructors in ihe camps, because it was vile. Women in cainns. ho believed, wuld exert an upllftiiiE influence. 'Again, if they could get the right typo of worker in the, camps lie was sure they would havo a grand opportunity of evangelising young New Zealand.

ilio Hev. J. K. Shaw said ho preferred tho compulsory, training syßtom to tho voluntary system. As a chaplain in tho Territorial camps, rod as a private •in Awapunl camp, holiai not heard bad language used. but they few it was different in Trcntham and Veatitwston. aim it was possible to couduct camps without resort to the use of bad language. Ho supported Mr. M'Konzie's motion, aHhouv * ho did not agree with its reference to tie voluntary system. • Volunteering and Shirkors. Tho Rev. J. A. M'Kcnzie staled that tho volunteer system lent itself to a good deal ol' shirking, and tho training would be confined only to u few men. Ho did not think thoy should take up tho attitude of dictating to the Government, but shount indicate that they wanted defence training which should bo as short' as possible consistent with effltienoy and safety.