ABOLITION URGED

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1930, Page 2

ABOLITION URGED

COMPULSORY MI LIT'A R Y TRAINING.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION REMITS.

TJMARTI, June 12

A keen discussion took place at the League of Nations Union Conference to-day oii'the question of the abolition of the system of compulsory military training and after a lengthy debate it was decided to congratulate the Government on abandoning territorial

camps. The remits were

Auckland:—That the Dominion Council of the League of Nation's union urge upon the Government to abolish the compulsory clause in the Defence Act.

Dominion president (Wellington): The conference regards with much satisfaction the action of the Government in abandoning territorial camps and urges it to complete the work of abolishing every form of compulsory military training ill the Dominion. Mr Todd (Gisborne) who moved the remit on behalf of Auckland, said that he felt the difficulty of the position. There were two courses open. They could help the league or else admit that war was inevitable. With the present development of air tones they could not trust to their own defences and must support the League. Dr James Gibb, the president, in speaking to the Wellington i remit, said that the executive of the union had been asked by one, it nor tw< branches, to issue a. pronouncement against military training, hut it had been thought wiser to refer the mattei to the Dominion Conference. The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand had on three o •casions made repress neat ions to the Government that military training should he abolished. The difficulty was that there were no doubt many wholehearted supporters of the League of Nations Union who did not -disapprove of military training, but who even approved it. From the standpoint of these people, and still more from that of a large section of the eommnuity who were not represented by the union, he wondered whether it was a wise thing to dogmatise on tins matter. It was a little outside the province of the union, and maybe it might he that discretion was the better part of valour. (Hear, Hear).

Mr Todd said that in Gisborne there were some very good officers in the Defence. Department and the territorial camps had been very successful. In fact, when the camps were abolished, the boys had offered to pay their own expenses if the camps could be held. The policy of each country to endeavour to effect its own defence was impossible, but now they had to trust in the league of Nations.

PRESENT SYSTEM FUTILE

Mr R. M. Laiug, who seconded the motion, expressed the opinion that the present system of territorial training was lu'tUe. For the past twoirt* years he had urged that the organisation of land troops in the Dominion was useless as a defence force. The Defence Department had now admitted that it was an attacking force for use overseas if necessary. Continuing, Air Lning said that there had been some 50,(KX) prosecutions of boys and young men under the Defence Act. A nation which endeavoured to force the conscience of the country was making a great mistake, Referring to the secondary school system, Air Lning contended that, the cadet company was the most detested organisation in the school. If cfecifpliiud did not develop self-control it would not benefit the boys at all. From the poiir or view of discipline and pbysicial training the system had failed. Mr A .E. Featherstone said that the Southland branch was unanimous!of the opinion that the union should take no action in this question. They were not helping by taking part in such a debatable matter and were only weakening their case.

GOVENAIENT WAITING FOR LEAD

Air Manning (Christchurch) contended that if tiie League of Nations was to he the arbiter in national disunites. then why should the union accept that military training should lie permitted in New Zealand? They should not go out with the final arbiter in international disputes, but that war would never be the final arbiter. At the present time the Government was waiting for a lead from the people ol New Zealand in connection witn tne defence system. Gamps were a moral crime. He would support the resosution as he had faith in the ultimate principle for which the League stood.

The Rev. H. E. Bellliouse said that in Dunedin they felt strongly that the union as a non-political boas .should take no action in this matter. Considerable discussion followed. Air Todd sub equently withdrew the Auckland remit and that proposed bv the president was carried by 21 votes to 8.

The council also adopted the following A uck land rein it:—

“That the Dominion Council he asked to urge upon branches of the union the consideration of a substitute for military training among youths and the pupils of the secondary schools,”