DEFENCE MEASURES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 748, 22 August 1929, Page 8

DEFENCE MEASURES

Sir, — Abuse and futile invective are indulged in by ”\ ae Yictis!” to express his disgust at the attitude of that large and growing body of Xew Zealanders who believe that the compulsory military training system should be tolerated no longer I have read his letter m Monday’s Sun very carefully and have failed to detect any cogent arguments or logical reasoning supporting the opposition ; probably because there is none likely to appeal to people with a true sense of values. Recent events prove that the public is becoming increasingly critical of the present farcical defence system. Churches are taking a definite stand against it. debating societies are selecting it as a subject and recently a stop-work meeting of 200 seamen who are not covered bv t J} e Act condemned it. This all show's that many shades of opinion are recognising that the whole question must' soon be the subject of a national

referendum, the result of which would give “Vae Victis!” the surprise of hi* life. Military experts agree that volunteer system is superior to compulsory training. Why not give another trial, as the first was successful? As for your correspondent’s ridiculous* contention that wax is inevitable, I feel sure it will carry no weight with clear-thinking folk who are mined to educate public opinion unn the sabre-rattling maniacs are ncaru no longer. c C.T. Hamilton.