Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2216, 21 October 1907, Page 3

“A couple of dozen people attend a meeting like this, and 50,000 people go to a footiball match! I . say, when wo see this state of things, ‘Heaven help Australia!’ ” Thus vehemently did ono of tho speakers at the annual meeting of the National Defence League (Now South Wales division) deplore the indifference exhibited by tho average Australian in regard, to the defence of liie own country. The importance of arousing public opinion on this auestion was urged by several speakers, fcir Julian Salomons drawing aitention to a telling appeal, in the “National Service Journal’-’ on. behalf of the Irjigiie, whilst Mr. J. C. Watson spoke hopefully of the prospects of securing a majority of the Federal House of Representatives for the motion proposed by Mr. W . M. Hughes in, favour of compulsory military training, in view of the fact that Mr Deakin and Mr Reid had both (riven utterance to very sympathetic remarks in reference to the mum principles upon which the league was iinhtiino-. A- suggestion made by tile committee that a paid organiser and lecturer Should he appointed to tour the country and stimulate public opinion was well received by .the meeting, it being recognised that the onlv difficulty was t-hvt the funds were not. at present sufficient to allow this appointment to bo uuulo.