The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 29, 1909. A SPARTAN EXAMPLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 463, 29 June 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 29, 1909. A SPARTAN EXAMPLE.

In proposing a vote of thanks at the meeting held at-Blenheim recently by Mr R. McNab in connection with universal military training, Mr Justice Cooper said it would be improper on his part to express a personal opinion on the question when Mr McNab had shown very forcibly the urgent necessity for a competent system ot Defence in the Dominion. He believed that every man in New Zealand was willing to help in the defence of the country, and he thought that a thorough system of compulsory training was essential in order that the men might be both willing and able to properly defend the country. Willingness was one thing, but competency was the other requisite. He thought that something should be done to continue the training given the boys in the public schools. He would say nothing further than to remind them of a reply made by the Spartan king when asked where was his castle. Pointing to his army, he said: “Here are the walls ot which every man is a brick.” He would like to see a system of military training introduced on the lines of the old Spartan democracy.