"CLASS AND SNOBBERY."

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 384, 5 August 1911, Page 6

"CLASS AND SNOBBERY."

WHOLESOME EFFECTS OF MILITARY TRAINING. Colonel Allen Bell, founder of the universal training movement in this Dominion, speaking at Te Aroha, made some outspoken remarks about those who refused to recognise their duty as citizens and register under the new Defence Act. "'For the Quaker.--, said Colonel Bell, '"I have the .greatest admiration and respect, and I heartily agree with their ideas that war should cease. Unfortunately, even with our improved civilisation and humanitarian ideas this was not possibly at the present time, and we had to be prepared However, preparation for war was only a secondary, though necessary, consideration, as far as universal training was concerned. The great object which he had always put before his audiences during an advocacy of over 15 years was that elevation of the national character which would be a result of the training, and this was the aspect that he always given prominence to in the o<H) addresses which iie had delivered on the subject. Under the new system the son ot a rich man would stand side by side in the ranks of the citizen army, the first noticeable result of which would be that the class distinction and snobbery that had undermined society would to a large extent disappear, and every man even in the lowest ranks would be treated with that respect, and consideration that was due to him if he behaved himself as a soldier and a man. The universal training movement would do more in a short time to create a capable, and reliable citizenship, anj fit the people for the reign of Democracy, than our schools and churches had done in a hundred years. For those outside the ranks of the Quaker and other genuine conscientious ob jectors words failed him to express his contempt. They were of no use to their Empire, and their country, and the sooner they sought fresh liekls and pastures new the better."