N.Z. DEFENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10613, 11 June 1920, Page 6

N.Z. DEFENCE

COMPULSORY TRAINING. REFERENCE BY MR G. MITCHELL, M.P. Touching on the future defence policy of New Zealand, Mr G. Miichcll, M.P , made some interesting remark! at the annual meeting of the Brooklyn Miniature Rifle Club. He said that as an aftermath of the war there had been a general trend towards toe idea of republicanism. This coud be understood and endorsed in the case of countries where autocratic rub had reached a. breaking point,' but there was no Empire where there _ was such freedom and such democratic ruo as obtained throughout tho British Empire. Our forefathers had kept the great Empire intact, and it was l .hc duty of the people of tho preseat g-n----cration, and cf the generations to come, to play their part. After plying a tribute to the great part taka in the late war by the British Nay, Mr Mitchell stated that the upkeo of that' Navy was very costly, and h hoped that the League of Nation would, iby some means, do away wit the necessity of policing the seas t such an extent. However, until to. League became a more practical in stitution, we had to go on protecting our own sens and our own country.. Tho Government defence scheme would probably be placed before Parliament next session, ’but he did not know what proposals would be madeNew Zealand would Lave to take a share in the upkeep of toe Navy, without whose protection the country would be at the mercy of any foreign nation.

Continuing. Mr Mitchell said that some political parties wore advocating the institution of the old system of volunteer defence forces, hut the only democratic course to adopt was compulsory training. It was the duty o! every fit man, lie said, to fake a reasonable share in the defence of his country. The volunteer system was quite out of date. However, compulsory training need not be of the same order as had" obtained in. the post. The youths of the country, tip to the age of twenty, should receive training in the fundamental principles o! defence—discipline and shooting. Those trained in this way would then he roadv to take their places in the field after receiving their final training. Lntil that training was completed, the country could depend on former members cf the New Zealand Division to again take their places in the firing In conclusion, Mr Mitchell voiced his keen disappointment that there had been no reorganisation of the no* fence staff.