NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8883, 7 August 1907, Page 3

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

Captain McNaught at Marton. Tlipm ir'ic n’ver.r good at tenItlSt TIJT \T 1 i _n\r.l Jill .UUIrtS?. Oil tllG 2S a a ®1 obfocte of the National Befe B C o°fOTp a «io°’conniiencoment Marton a iK*ttho entrance of the gu d £n«ii« «» oremne „ cfiiool cadets and school gsryr*» r“ ‘‘Thn Cadets’ Marching bong” and flic Vote Zealand National Anthem, ni® c adets were under Captain Mossniau. The Marton Orchestra, under Mr Sharpe, played an overture au d “The Egyptian Patrol,’ both selections being heartily applauded. Mr W. L. Tattle gave a capital rendering of “Marching,” Mr Bert Drossier playing the accompaniment. The Mayor (Dr. SI term an) presided. Ho said Captain McNaught had ' come to Marton to establish a branch of the" Defence League. He thought it a most admirable object, aud hoped the movement would be heartily supported.

Captain McNaught said his mission throughout the colony was to arouse pabhc sympathy aud interest in the great national question of compulsory universal training for youths between the ago of 17 and 21 years. The movement was started in Auckland some nine mouths ago and had been enthusiastically, taken up. Every young man would bo require d fco give a portion of his time in equipping himself for the defence of the colony. There wore something like 20,000 volunteers in New Zealand, bub he ventured to say that not one half wore efficient. It cost the colony over £200,000 for this small army, hut the scheme now proposed would do away with that expenditure to a great extent. He advocated that young men should take the burden of defence upon their own shoulders, aud not leave it ti a few who have been doing it for many years past. They proposed to urge* Government to introduce a Bill for three years’ compulsory training, f,nd it was to ho made a platform question to candidates at next general election. Strong and enthusiastic brandies had boon established in Auckland aud Waikato districts and all along the West Coast. The membership fee of the League was fixed at a nominal charge of one shilling, and in return a monthly defence journal, containing instructive aud interesting volunteering matter, was posted to every member free of charge. Some people thought he was employed by the Government , In the work. That was not so. The money collected goes towards tills movement. The aims and objects of the League were necessary. Ho pointed out that if the protection now afforded by the navy should temporarily fail us, this colony would ho liable to Invasion. They s’liould he prepared to protect themselves, and the system now proposed for doing this was the cheapest aud best for bringing about an efficient service. It was not proposed to fill the country yith costly barracks, hut liy Universal training familiarise every fonng man to use defensive yeapous effectively. This would not talio them away from their homes as ,conscripts, hut enable them to acquire the necessary training in their spare time. Those who thought the country worth defending could _ not do loss than approve the principles of the Longue. Ho described the results of the Swiss system of compulsory training, and what Australia yas now doing with a similar movement. It had been suggested to have national defence day in the colony, (ind either Empire Day ortho King’s Birthday could he set aside for this. Lie was glad the Farmers’ Union proposed to support the movement ol the League. Ho was thoroughly in favour of the drill instruction now given to school cade is. In order to encourage young men to remain in the volunteer service, he had advocated that a free railway pass be issued to those who had given two years’ service. Ho now churned that a reward for compulsory service should he on similar linos. In conclusion, he asked for the personal aud financial support of all towards dairying out the movement, for once ’the people declared in favour of the proposals he felt sure tlie Government would give practical effect to them.

The Major moved and the You. Archdeacon Towgood seconded “That a branch of the Lcagno be formed at Marton.” The motion was carried unanimously.

■ ITho mover and seconder and the Rev. T.'S. Carr'spoke' in favour of the objects of the League. 1 A vote of thanks was passed to Captain McNanght for his address, and votes of thanks wore also passed jo the Chairman, rho singers, the Jpniff, and the press. A meeting of the branch of the League was then held, and following officers and committee, wore elected : —President, the Mayor (Dr. Sherman); vice-president, Yen. Archdeacon Towgood, Captain Batten; pecretary, F, E. Duuuo; committee, Revs. Carr and Gordon, Messrs A. Sharpe, J. Mathers, H. J. Hilton, C. Cummins, Mossmau, A. Way, J. Morgan, IV. Little, E. Carey, T. Wliitlc, J. McEldowuoy, Davenport, E. Newman, J. J. McDonald, Lients. Young and Harris, .7, Bell, S. J. Gibbous. Saudford-Cos, A. Sutcliffe, H. Sutcliffe, Major Saunders, C. P. Mather, Rev. Father Molloy, _ W. J. Bird), F. Purnell, J. M. Nicol, E. M. Walters, J. Mogridgc, J. jhnwson.