WAR & PREPARATION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 38, 14 February 1913, Page 3

WAR & PREPARATION

DISCUSSED BY METHODISTS COMPULSORY TRAINING UPHELD BRITISH FREEDOM. | Compulsory military training was discussed by the Methodist Conference yesterday afternoon, on the following motion by the Rev. D. M'Nicoll: — "That in view of the great ' advances made in the peace movement I ■ throughout the ■uorld, and in • \ iew of the fact that the^ present warlike method.? «n settling disputes are both un-Christian and against the best interests of the people, this conference declares itself in favour of arbitiation in all international disputes : we also enter our emphatic protest agahub compubbry military training,' belie^n.'.* tins to be not only a serious reflection on the patriotism of the people of tiio Dominion, and fraught with great moral perils to our youths, but also entirely out of harmony with Christian teaching and the traditions of British frecfotn." The mover read a letter, but did not give the writer's natne,' expressing regret that "the Primitive Methodist Church was thti only church in New Zealand that had the moral cnaragi? to oppose the movement under which some person was imprisoned or fined almost every day." Proceeding, Mr. M'Nicoll said that this compulsory system was opposed to the British instincts of patriotism. It was out of harmony with the 1 traditions of British freedom. Just in proportion as a nation was free so did it resist conscription. The two nations that were to the greatest extent free were the British and American. Neither would tolerate conscription. There would be a revolution if it were . tried in America. -There might be a revolution here if things went on. (No ! No !) "Oh, you don't know. There is a great deal of feeling against this system. More than you think. (Laughter.) You are living in a fool's paradise. I am from . Christchurch and I know that there are 6000 people who have signed petitions against this Act. There are a great number of boys who have gone to gaol over it. That ' letter I read represents the feeling of a great many people." He did not object to fighting for his country ; but he did object to being forced at the point of the bayonet. He did not go as far. as the Quakers; he believed the instinct to defend one's home was God-given, but it was this compulsory clause he did not like. They could get plenty of volunteers without it. There was a wave of Jingoism that had brought this in. He did not approve of the Dreadnought gift, A voice: No party politics in con* ference. The President (Rev. S. Lawry) suggested that such matters had better not be discussed. Mr. M'Nicoll continued that the people had not been consulted, • the Act had been passed without their ■ knowledge. Mr. G. W. Leadley • seconded ■ the motion. With the first part of 'it they were no- doubt all agreed. He was an old volunteer and if occasion came would not be the last to come out for defence of his country. But in regard to compulsory training the people had been tricked. 1 Hon. G. J. Smith : I object to that. Mr. Leadley : Very well, I will' repeat it. Mr. Smith appealed to the chairman, who requested Mr. Leadley to with- 1 draw his expression. Mr. Leadley did so. He proceeded to say that the people had .not been consulted. Had they been. the measure would never have been . carried. In a few years it Would be repealed. With part of the money spent on the present system they could establish a thoroughly .efficient citizen army. He ob-

jected to the system as a taxpayoi, and as a father of boys who would be called to tiiki' up their duty under it. From what he had seen and heard of the in-fluf-nce of camp lifp he dreaded the moment vJien his boys would have to take pait in that life. Finally he objected to the system as a Christian. (Applause.) The Rev. J. N. Buttle referred to a letter nppc'aiing in o Ohri&tchurch papci, describing- how a parent visited in prison a son who had refused duty. (Some ciies o( "Shame" and some "No."} CHAMPION OF THE SYSTEM. The lion. O. J. Smith expiessed vegiet that the question had been introduced to the conference, as it was one involving coiißidpvahlc iVpling. The mover and s-umder had caid that they would be quite ready to fight and defend their country : \vlv.t would be the use of i heir going out untrained to fight a trained army. AH the encouragement they would give to the volunteer aystgih would never have given an e/licient volunteer force. For efficient defence of the country they required, so Lord Kitchener estimated, a force of 30,000 men. They never got these in volunteer days, they would not g*et them nowadaj'3, under voluntary conditions, and, even if they could, where was the equity of these volun* teers doing the work which every man should be pioud to do? They had in* troduced no compulsion so far asexpeditionary forcps were concerned. Rsv. J. X. Buttle: They'd better not. Mr. Smith aeked why, then, had Mr. M'Nicoll cited the popularity of the contingents as an argument against compulsion". With regard to the moral question, the standard of the Territorial camps was immeasurably superior to that of the Volunteer campß. In all institutions there was generally &ome wrong. There were things in Churches that they would very much rather did not happen. (Hear ! hear !) But the standard in the camps was very much higher than could be expected, all things considered. The whole trend of the i system and the influence of" 1 - General Godley and his officers would be in tho direction of raising tho moral life of the camps. (Applause.) The Rev. G. H. Mann thought that the matter was one for the conference to consider. Authorities held that six weekfi' hard, solid training would lick a body of men into much better shape than the mere toy army that Would result from the present system. THE MORAL QUESTION. The Rev. J. H. Simmonde was of opinion that while, in a few cases, boye might receive harm from camp life, an enormous number would receive great benefit from the training and discipline. The camps saved ' tho men from the streets. The Rev. W. Ready said he had been converted from the idea that camps were immoral. It was a good thing for boys to go into camp and have proper discipline brought to bear upon them. ,The Hon. C. M. Luke said that all xhat the Defence Act said was that everyone must be trained. He believed the operation of the Act would bring about great physical improvement of the race. . Rev. J. \V. Burton said that they had tho most perfect, right to criticise the policy of ; any . Government if, they thought it was inimical to Christianity. He believed that there was a jingo spirit' among the young men that was against the spirit of Christ. Some of those opposed to military training were before their time, but lie was content to vote with the minority. He did not agree with the ..anti-military element. Service was the law of the land, and they should obey it, but he believed that he had the right to endeavour to do all in hie power to alter the la\v ( if he believed it to be wrong. What was the use of the system, anyhow? "Good gracious! your little, tinpot Territorial army! What good could it do against a navy that could blow our cities to pieces." Mr. Smith liad 3'eferred to Homer Lea; that showed he was in tho last straits ; for muddiness of thought Lea could hardly bo beaten.

An ox- Volunteer and present Tcnitorial, Mr. F. C. Daniel], «aid that the ejstem was not perfect, but it wne better than under the old Volunteer conditions. The camps were ju6l what- tho officers and men made them. They, rb ii Church, had been neglecting their duty in hot seeing that the officers wuic such to whom they might trust their eons. Tho remedy for bad langutige and immorality in camp life Was the elevßlion of the moral tone of tho men in command, and the presence in c&mp of tho chaplains. » Tho motion Mas, with the consent of the mover, divided. Tho first portion, referring to peace, was carried unanimously.- The second portion was defeated by 70 Voles to 55. Applause followed tho announcement of tho vote, and the president interjected : "Excuse me, that is nothing to clap over. On the motion of the llev. Mr. Joughiu and the Rev. W. Ready, a resolution of last yoar Advocating a conscience clause was again put before the conference. In supporting the motion, the Rev. Abernethy said that if the vote just cast were allowed to go forth by itself it would lead people to believe that the conference approved of the imprisonment of boys under the Defence Act. The motioh was* carried without dissent. CHAPLAINS' WORK. ' The committee appointed to deal with the position of military chaplains i-e- j ported .that it had -considered -several subjects affecting the interests of the Church- and the status of its minslrv. • and set up a cub-committee to wait upon Ooneral Godley and .discuss them with him. The General met the subcommittee most courteously, and as a result of the conference several ques* tiohs had been cleared up. The committeo felt sure that the work of tho chaplains would go smoothly in future. On the recommendation of* the commit tee, it was decidod :— (1) That the chairman of districts should, in consultation with the senior chaplains, nominate chaplains for the forces; (2) that the conference strongly recommend to sister Churches the desirability of cooperating with the V.M.C.A., with a view to arranging for provision for the social as well aa the spiritual needs of the troops in camp. ♦