THE MILITARY AGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1748, 18 August 1917, Page 4

THE MILITARY AGE.

It is very Hear that public opinion in New Zealand is against miy reduction in the military age, says the Auckland Herald. The discussion is perhaps premature, for it appears that the subject lias not been considered by the Government, though it is asserted that the reduction has the approval of the military authorities. In • support of the change it is urged that in Britain, Canada, and Australia youths of IS are sent into camp. This statement is somewhat misleading. In Australia, and possibly in Canada, youths who have volunteered have been accepted for service, but Australia has no system of conscription, and in Canada compulsory service is to begin at 20. In Britain the service expected from youths is wholly different from service in the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force. There it is necessary to maintain a large army for home defence. Youths are eidisted and trained in this home army, but according to recent reports, the British practice now is not to send soldiers abroad until they reach the ago of 20. Further, the whole of Britain’s eligible manhood has been called up. There is no Second Division in reserve, and the mobilisation of youths, after other classes have been exhausted, is not the same thing been suggested in New Zealand. In fact, the argument from other countries is against compulsion at 10 in New Zealand. America is calling up men from 21, Canada from 20. No nation that has not its whole manhood in the field has conscripted at 19. The eager youth is probably found in greater proportion in the Australian army I ban any other, a circumstance which is more a criticism of the Australian voluntary system than a reason for reducing the military age in New Zealand.