THE SPARTANS AND MILITARY TRAINING.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 29, 22 September 1911, Page 17

THE SPARTANS AND MILITARY TRAINING.

. « : Dear Editor, —It is pleasing (?) to read some of th<e things that editors of. other journals bring forward to as,sist them, in maintaining their stand that ' compulsory military . training is necessary—vide editorial of "Auckland Weekly News" of August 17; heading,. "Educated Patriotism,: "To taikj as. has been done, of 'conscription' and the like is both idle and ignorant, and those who indulge in such comparisons should at least study the facts. . , It is a pity that the study of classics.."has fallen -into disfavour, for. the; teachings of history put to shame the narrow public spirit evinced by those who disclaim national service today.". ..And then the writer shows what Lycurgus taught to the Spartans.. Now, in showing forth the laws c$ Lycurgus, he forgets one vital pom&. These Spartans "wero one common pie. They held EVERYTHING 'm common, and they followed th'/afr prince and leader. This Prince was iihe only person who had any private pfoparty. All else wes held in commesl. Verily, the- people of New Zealand CT the people of the world, would be only too willing to do that which was ultimately for the good of all —let it be fighting or anything else —if it was proven that it- was for the ultimate good of all and not of the few. If the "people" were the possessors of "alii," if tifoey held everything in common and none could say he "possessed" more than another, then they would not need to be compelled to do national service, and they would not require'- to bo compelled to do any one thing that was ultimately for the good of all. Also, the editor forgets that these Spartans had no need to toil. They .could study science, literature, art, or the science of war, and give themselves the full benefit of the physical training necessary to take their part in the public or national games. These Spartans had no need to toil. What of those slaves of theirs who had everything to do? What of them? Was the public spirit fostered in them, or were they always shown that they were: slaves and the Spa.rta.ns the masters? Common masters and common slaves. Does the editor recognise, in his study of the classics, that there was this other party? The reason so many New Zealanders are against -this Compulsory Training Act is because of the fact that they do not possess the country. The country is not thgirs. They do not possess all things in common. Far from it. They are plainly shown that they do not even possess permanent "jobs." The workers you ©an look upon as the equals to the, slaves of Spartan "times. The men who have capital, the masters, are they who may possess all things in common inasmuch as they have the wherewithal to barter for that which they desire. There is much to bo learnt from the past. The "leaders'' among the Spartans, under Lycurgus, had the honour of being leaders, but that did not confer on .them power over their fellow Spartans. See? When you find among; other colonies of - Greece that leaders received not only honours and ovations, but also honours and wealth, then there was "power* , conferred, which in most cases was abused. Kitchener received honours after the Soudan and also £50,000 (wasn't it?), and he has had honours since, and now be perhaps administrator of affairs' in Egypt. No doubt we would all be prepared to fight if it were for the common good. ,—I etc;, ARCH. McNEIL. Puponga, August 24