MILITARY CAMPS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1926, Page 4

MILITARY CAMPS

INCREASED DURATION OPPOSED. THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM. AUCKLAND, Sept. 21. Following on its recent criticism of any attempt to introduce three months’ training dimps for the New Zealand military forces tho Auckland Council of Christian Congregations took a further step by passing a resolution urging tlm adoption of a voluntary system' of training. The Rev 1). C. Herron moved the following resolutions: “That the Council deprecates the suggestion recently favourably commented upon by the • officer in charge of tho Northern military command that hoys of eighteen should go into camp for three months for military training. That in the interests of international goodwill and strengthening of tho hands of our British statesmen by establishing a uniform military policy throughout the Einpiro and showing loyalty to tho League of Nations the time has came to advocate the adoption of a volunteer system of territorial training, instead of universal compulsory training.” Both resolutions wore carried without discussion. Commenting upon tho first resolution Mr Herron said that 'after his recent remarks against the lengthening of military training he had received letters of congratulation from all over New Zealand. In reply to his former statements the military authorities Had said tho proposal did not come from i them. Tie had no idea where it had come from, ‘hut it- had certainly been discussed lay tho military authorities. Mr Herron said the council’s objection was based on three points. Firstly a lengthened period of training would tend to develop a military, outlook ai. a. time when there was special need of peace. Secondly it. would he a strain on boys’ morality, and thirdly it wiVuld be regarded by the League of Nations as an unfriendly yet. Colonel Potter had said there was only 100* cases of V.D. at Trentham Hospital, and that 75 per cent of these had contracted the disease before admission. Mr Herron said he wished to elifdleuge that- statement. He was sure that as a result of tho Council's action the. suggestion for three months’ training camps would not ho adopted bv the military authorities. In advocating a system of voluntary training Mr Herron Slid that compulsory training in peace time was against the genius of the British race. It, was a Continental production and was not ill vogue in Great Britain. New Zealand showed by her .attitude that she. was the most militaristic of the dominions. The Government was spend ing more than £1,000,000 oil the army and navy this year. This was an increase of £IOO,OOO on last year. Although it was true that the larger part of this expenditure would he on tho navy in 1025-26 £-155.368 was spent on military work and in 1926-2 i '£471,535. In contrast with this was the economy of tho Government in other matters. Scholarships for pupils going from primary schools to secondary schools had been reduced. Subsidies to the Jubilee Institute for the Blind had also been cut down. Quoting figures tliken. by the National Peace Society of Christchurch from Defence Department records lie said it was shown there hall been over 40,MU) cases of prosecutions in connection with military regulations since the compulsory system came into force in. 1911. “A. volunteer system,” concluded Mr Herron, “would result in the efficient training of keen men ready 'for any 1 emergency.”