COMPULSION QUESTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 1 August 1929, Page 6

COMPULSION QUESTION

CHANGE SUGGESTED 1 PRIVATE BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE (By Telegraph) (From “The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Hist July. The proposals by -Mr W. J. Jordan (Alanukau) in his Compulsory Service Repeal Rill for abolishing the principal clauses in the present Defence Act were under discussion in the House of Representatives to-night. The mover made it clear that he did not propose to do away with military service but only with the compulsion aspect of it. If the Rill was passed it would still be possible to have a volunteer force. Consideration might be given to replacing military training with physical training. If boys were encouraged instead of compelled to go to camp there would be little complaint. Britain abolished conscription immediately after the War but we were continuing it., Man-power / was the main consideration •in war therefore surely it would he far better to care for the physical welfare of our youtli. Of the men examined during the late war 55 per'cent, were unfit for active service. What then was the. use of training men who would never be fit to leave New Zealand '! The time would come when the compulsory clauses would have to he abolished in order to meet public opinion. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Central Otago) pointed out that the Act was serving the dual 'purpose of providing against the possibility of ,war, and also providing the only compulsory system of physical training, it would be umvise .to'repeal the compulsory clauses unless an effective substitute were provided. The defence system was worth while if it improved the country’s young manhood. Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) advo- • cated a relaxation of the Act bv a reduction of the training age limit to eighteen. “WASTE OF MONEY” Colonel T. W. McDonald (Wairarapa) pointed out that the Bill would eliminate rifle clubs and secondary school cadet corps which' were doing good work. .The time had arrived for an overhaul of the Defence Act which entailed a great waste of money. Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier) said*Mr Jordan would be willing to exempt rifle clubs if the compulsory provisions were a bolished. *lt would be a great relief from the incessant haggling oyer conscience questions... Jn substitution for the present system aviation training could be advantageouslv introduced. Mr H. M. Rushworth (Bay of Islands) thought it necessary to keep on' preparing for war. One day the Labour Party would be the most militant section in the House. He thought the present military system obsolete and he agreed that air defence was the most efficient system. He supported the Bill. Mr C. Carr (Timaru) said that if they prepared for war they would get it. Disarmament would be the finest possible peace gesture. Sir Joseph Ward said no change in the present system of defence would be made for a considerable time, for it would be impossible financially to maintain the present system and, at the same time, adopt a system of aerial defence. Mr 11. E. Holland (Bullet-) generally condemned war and said that by following a system of compulsion • New Zealand was following the example of Germany in the days of Kaiserdoni. He deprecated the receiit cases of conscientious objectors—boys of high principles being dragged into court.