SHOULD COMPULSORY TRAINING BE ABOLISHED?

Shannon News, 5 November 1929, Page 3

SHOULD COMPULSORY TRAINING BE ABOLISHED?

SUGGESTION THAT THE MONEY SHOULD GO TO .THE BACKBLOCKS. Notice was given, at the meeting of the Maivawatu executive of the Farmers ’ Union in Levin on. Saturday, by Mr J. T. Kent, of Waikanlae, that at the next meeting he would move, “That the Government he asked to abolish the expenditure on Territorials and com-

pulsory /military service, aiid devote the expenditure to bacltblock roads, rural telephones and postal services, so as to encourage settlers to take up laud and develop 'settlement. ” . The Cha'irmlan '(Mr P- Lynch) re-

marked, “If Sir Joseph lives that down I will be surprised. I was like a good many more in my views on that system until the War broke out; it seemed an awful waste of time. However, within nine days of the declaration of war. we had our territorials drafted, equipped and in camp, and every one of them was fit to be sent overseas almost at once. Mr J. Gloyne said that in England the isamo thing had happened with a quarter of a million volunteers. The 1 cost to the country for the volunteer system had only been the 30s a year capitlat.i'on grant.

Mr Kent: We might be preparing for war for the next 40 years. The Chairman: Look at the courage ■ it give's you. ' 1 Mr Gloyne said that in the late war men who had never had a in tiheir hands were sent away from England before Territorials. The Chairman: The discussion is out of order. It is a notice for next meeting, and will be thrashed out then.