THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1909 DEFENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 157, 20 May 1909, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1909 DEFENCE.

THE subject of Defence is agitating the public mind very considerably at present, and it is to be devoutly hoped the ferment will continue until stepa have been taken to place such an important matter on a sound basis. It is generally conceded that the volunteer system has proved an utter failure; Its present supporters are merely assisting it, because, as yet, no better method h<ut be?p projected by the authorities. The campaign bring conducted by Mr McNab in the interests of defence should do much to rouse th" ptlblle to a realisation of the position. Obviously the country requires a system of defence, and as time passer the need may be expected to grow with the fleeting years. Recent world . events point to widespread unre-t among both European and A i.ii powers, and as our Dominion grow importance, our responsibilities must increase in every direction. Hitherto we have leant screnly on the breast of the Motherland, secure in the knowledge that the parent arm was all | powerful among nations. The duty of making provision for the future Is becoming more insistent, and the an- , nouneeuw;nt by the Prime Minister that he intend) to introduce ? defence scheme during the coming session v. ill be widely welcomed. What form the scheme is likely to assume initially it fo difficult to predict, but there is little doubt thattb.e time is rapidly appr<*<•:;ing when universal s«-» vi •• M ;h be regarded as the only rational ' 7 making adequate pr<.visK-r. w to- :.e----fence of our country. Arguments .could be multiplied in support 01 such a policy. At present th,e fact .that world conditions still make fur warfare, and that our country is internally 1

! defenceless seems to provide goou rea- ! son for action. If our country is worth defending (.very individual hoinir.g tnai opinion should take price ;r. i '.-fMrnir.tr efficient for th..- purpose of playing part in ca s e defence i? necessary. 1 r.<: schema advo.-at' •: i• y ir.* >»aU'»:;;iS league is not the- !r> ".wl n '- '<■ '<•' vrary panic. Rather it k- the *.vi .: cor.si<;ere-; project of sane, patriotic, iar seeing . men, thoroughly capable of forming :• true estimate of current events ar f J whither the said events are trending. In essence the project of the I,caput; is to provide for the carrying on of the training of our cadets, aft' r they have left school, in the most reason,-.: .' manner possible. The making of sucn training compulsory is theor.iy manner in which it can become universal, an 1 as one individual is as much concerned as another in the matter, the making of the system universal is one of the chief recommendations of the project. The Prime Minister in his replies to various deputations lias drawn a picture of the dislocation of business, which would result from the introduction of compul-ory traning. Either Sir Joseph Ward has failed to grasp the central idea, which is to prevent 1 the dislocation of business, or he magnifies the difficulties attendant upon the carrying out of the project. The scheme is a national insurance, not only for protecting our lives and liberties, but of assisting the Empire in time of need by placing ourselves in an upright position instead of continuing to lean with increasing weight on the maternal breast. Patriotism for the Home land and patriotism for our Dominion should prompt us to immediate action, more particularly as any result from such action will take years to mature.