Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9398, 19 March 1909, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

THERE can be no doubt in the mind of anyone who has read the debate which took place in the House of Commons on the naval estimates that it is the intention of Germany on the first favourable opportunity to make a bid for the command of the sea and the destruction of the'British Empire. Though this state of affairs is to be regretted it must be faced. Hysterical complaints about the wickedness of sncb an attempt are quite out of place. Germany has a large and rapidly inoreasing'population, and is naturally anxious to provide room within her Empire for them. Britain stands in the way and holds large areas in New Zealand and Australia which she has not yet filled, and these would prove a most desirable addition to German territory. No one can therefore blame the Germans if they attempt 'to oust Britain from the position she has held so long. Though we may not complain of the action of Germany it is not to be exthat we shall sit still and let her designs be carried out without an effort to baffle them. Hitherto New Zealand has really never awakened- to the fact that the privilege of forming part of a great Empire entails also the responsibility of* taking a fair share in the burden of defending it. The people of the Dominion have shown themselves remarkably good critics of Britain. At one moment our leading journals are warning Britain against reducing the expenditure on the Navy, and at another they are drawing attention to the grave lack of public spirit in that country which has led to small numbers joining the territorial forces. It is quite time this attitude was dropped and the people asked themselves What are we doing for the efficient .defence of the Empire?” So far as the navy is concerned. New Zealand does something, and as it is obviously foolish to attempt to build a Dominion Navy the direct contribution method is probably the best course in thh circumstances. Bub New Zealand could at least provide efficient land forces for her own defence, and/this has never yet been attempted. here » complain that Britain does not institute compulsory service fur all, but though there would he practically no opposition to such a scheme here the party in power are too weak to take the. risk of proposing it. They prefer to wait for the voice of the people to direct them, forgetting that men who accept the position of leaders ought to be ready to lead. The people are sound at heart, and - if a demand for self-sacrifice is made on them by leaders they trust they will answer the call of duty nobly. New Zealand likes to lead the world iu legislation ; let her do what is far better and lead the Empire in the establishment of compulsory service.

LORD ROBERTS, as President of the National Service League m Britain, has outlined a schema which would meet the requirements of this country as well as those of Britain, and if ‘‘volunteer force” is read for ‘‘territorial army” the following letter sent by the League to the London Times, describes our position and requirements exactly:—“The Territorial Army has some fatal defects: — 1. It does not provide sufficient men; 2. The peace training of those it does provide is hopelessly inadeqnate ; and 3. The burden is unfair in its incidence. It is generally recognised that these defeots are due to'' the fact that the Territorial Army is at present recruited on a voluntary system. Under that [system any attempt to increase the training is attended by an immediate falling off in the enlistments, and even under the exiguous training that now ohtains j both the men who engage, and their employers, are placed at a disadvantage in the industrial struggle as compared with those who, by abstaining from taking part in the work of national defence, are able to devote the whole of* time to business or pleasure, So long as ,the voluntary .system is adhered to these defects will remain, and the experience of half a century has shown that ii does not, and cannot, provide a force which, in the words of the Norfolk Commission, is “qualified to take'the field against a foreign army.”

We desire to see, these defects removed by the only possible method, namely, by military training in youth, and by the liability to service—for home defence only—up to a certain age. For this purpose we urge that: — 1. Subject to certain exemptions, a training in the ranks of the Territorial Army up to a fixed standard, based'on the general principle of one continuous training of four montrs iu camp for the infantry (with longer periods, not exceeding two additional mouths, for cavalry and artillery), shall be compulsoiy on all able-bodied youths in this country between the ages of 18 and 31, without distinction of class or wealth. Snoh training to be followed annually by a musketry course and, a fortnight’s training in camp for the next three years.

2. The men tbns trained shall he liable to be called out for service in the Territorial Army, for home defence only, in a time of grave emergency, so declared by Parliament, up to the age of 30. i Combined with the above system we desire to see as muob physical drill' and, military instruction as possible given to all boys previous to their reaching the military age. ’ ’

IT is satisfactory to note that the necessity of economy in the working of the State machinery has been forced on the attention of Ministers. A Ministerial organ has outlined the intentions of the Ministry in regard to the reduction of the staff, and although the Premier has alleged that the information is of the nature of what is called “kite flying” there is little doubt that the intention is to feel the pulse of the public. It is unnecessary in the meantime to go into details of the proposed reductions. The most interesting fact is that the unwieldy and costly public service is to be cut down. No less than fourteen new departments have been crehted since the party came into office, and it was obvioias that the country could not long bear the burden. So long as wool, flax, etc., were bringing high prices, and it was possible to borrow millions, the way of the Treasurer Was smooth, but now the Ministry, like individuals, must economise. The news will be welcomed by the taxpayers, however unwelcome it may be to those who have been filling useless offices.