INTERESTING ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 11 April 1907, Page 2

INTERESTING ITEMS.

, The advantages of dealing direct with I the manufacturer are obvious to evcry- . one. The large extent of our business , throughout the Colony through our , many branches enable us to import in ; a large way to the very best advantage of our clients. See replace advertise- , ment New Zealand Clothing Factory. , Nominations for five members 'to represent the Carrington Bond Board will be j received at the Board's office up to noon of Saturday 27th inst. A meeting is to bo held at New Ply- ! mouth to-night to consider the advisability of forming a local branch of 'the International Arbitration and Peace SoI cioty. Mr Aldis, 0 f the Auckland branch, is to deliver 1111 aihlr, -, ihc aims of ' the Society, which, w ■ understand, are f to -distribute literature 'earing upon ' the benefits of international peace, to ! oiler prizes to school children for essays • on peace, to discountenance jingoism j and to generally help in bringing about 1 peace. » "A dea." Messrs. Sole Bros.' beautiful property is in lovelv order just now. and ; visit it's to the garden party to be held 1 there this afternoon should see this ' beauf v spot at its best. The garden 1 fete is arranged as part of the eelcbra--1 lions of (lie jubilee or Oddfellowship.and I members of the Order and their friends will doubtless attend ill huge numbers. A special 'bus service is arra 1 ged, and the Currison Hand will be in attendance. To-night the anuiversarv dinner will be held i'l the Brougham si reef ball. The catering and all the other arrangements are in iirst-class hands, and (he function promises to be very largely attended. When it comes io bnving, voti wair 1 the town's finest (| „alitv at the towns lowest price. Lead Morev's golf blouse 1 adverli^t'incnt. _______ ]

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE. UiVJVEUSAL TIiAIiVJXG ADVOCATED lheic was a large attendance at the JlH'l'lllln- las. nigin i„ t ] lL , ' roW)l JJ.,11 j" 11,0 ''"'l'"™ «ft!„. Naliouu'U ut .New Zealand. Ilia Worship the .Mayor presided, and there were with linn OH the platform: Oilunol K X |, Okey, Major .Norman L. D. Smith, "citeral organiser; Air W. T. .luiminpi, A1.1J.11.; ami Captain C. H. JJoo.l, district secretary. Auiong.-t those present- were Colonel Ellis, Adjutan; Weston, .Major Dcinpscy, Captain Kami ford, Lieut. .1. C. J)avies, Revs. Bradbury, Osborne and Katlior Mc.Maants, Dr McOlelaml, .Messrs K. Pridham, \V. J. Chancy, \V. [J. .Skinner, T. Murray, J. U. Parker and others; ropmcntaiivw of the Tarauaki \ etorans, and volunteers, ami a strong contingent of tile Central School cadets. 'l'lu' .Mayor, in hiy introduclory remarks, said the movement was one which I deserved more attention llian was given jtoit by Xe\v Zealand people, lie was i pleased to see so many cadets presenl, lor iu (hem tliev had (lie future soldiers (and t.h' future citizens of this portion of the Umpire. He read letters of apology from Mr \y. (J. Kiddell, Stipend!ary .Magistrate, and Hon T. Kelly, M.L.C., both of whom varmlv svmp'ithised with the movement. Captain Hood, secretary to ihc local branch, explained the principal planks ol the League platform. .Major Smith delivered n brief lint interesting address, in which he showed tile necessity for act'on in preparing for defence in the ease of an outbreak of hostilities. Patriots and rilles must be brought together, and the British Empire could only bo bound together by the rifles and bayonets of the British people. The man who talked glibly of the Union Jack was of 110 use unless he was prepared to fight for it. There was great need for organisation, for the colony was not by any means prepared. The thunderclap of war was coming some (In y. and where would the British Empire be unless fully prepared? The war would not, be a long drawn-out affair, but would come as a thunder-clap on some liright sunny day. They would "read in the papers that the cables were broken, and with them the British pire."Mr W. T. Jennings, M.H.R., said h was a staunch convert to the cause, an. was lirinly impressed .wth the belief thu the colony was worth fighting for am that some day they would have to figli for it. Tie did not favor militarism a the term was generally understood, bn , nevertheless he believed in the cade movement. The rillc clubs through out the colony should he supported a they tended to maintain the spirit 0 defends and patriotism inculcated ' ii the schools. He had in Parliament ad vocatcd greater assistance 'to the. cadet and to the rille clubs. Speaking as a 1 old shot, rifle-shooting was the very bes form of amusement, which produced ' really good citizens. He was oppose - to conscription, and would always 0[ ' pose it. In concluding, he moved. "Tha ■ this meeting thoroughly endorses 'th 1 sentiments promulgated \y the Natioiu League of New Zealand in the diroctio • of defence of the British Empire genei ally and Now Zealand in particular, an • pledges itself to support the principle ' flint (hose avlio are proud of and receiv the benefits of the British (lag shMild b prepared to support and sustain th Mime, and for this purpose advocate uni ! versal military training of all citizen for the defence of the flag." | Dr MeC'lelaiid seconded, and told 'th ; meeting his conviction—gained from cor versations with military and eommerein men along the coasts of Asia, with whor ft was -the general theme of convcrsatio: —that there was a secret agitntio ; amongst the yellow races of the Ens against the Europeans. In the p\esen state of international affairs there wa the most urgent neexl for re-organisatioi and /for universal military training. The motion was carried unanimously Mr W. H. Skinner, at the request o the meeting, added a few words dcaliiij with the danger from the East. He ad voeated the establishment of cadet corpi in all primary and secondary schoo's and that boys should be compelled t< take this training; and it should hi compulsory, also, for the young men t( continue that training to the ago o! about 25. In tile early days of Tarn naki tin; settlers had to turn out regit larly for drill, and he was of opinion thai despite the small population in thos< days Taranaki was more prepared thei; than now to withstand attack, lie was 601'ry that there were so few iadios pre sent. The young ladies should take m interest, and should insist on theii suitors showing their manliness b,y enrolling in the Defence League so as tv fit them for Ihe defence of their home; in days to come should occasion arise.

Captain Sandford said, his late, lather's great object in life had been to fit his own boys and girls for self defence by learning iha use of the rifle, lie himself was an advocate of drill and shooting combined. lie,'contended that schools with cadet corps turned out better boys than those where there were no cadet corps. These should be established in every school.

.Major Dcnipsey assured the organiser I. that tliere was strong sympathy with i; the movement in New Plymouth , and supported the contention, from his own » experience, that military training raised the tone of tile boys in tlie schools. That was the experience, too, of m;my other csulei oircers whom lie liail met. Rev. Bradbury also made some re - [r _ marks on the necessity of preparing for 5 V emergency. Nothing had sucli an 111lluonee for paste as preparedness, j Lieutenant Dalies urged the neces- -- 6it y fo- military training, n, Colonel J. Ellis expressed his opinion J that every young man ill the .Empire in should be prepared to fight for the Emit pire, ami he could not do that without > training. lie would rather have one ;- modern-trained soldier that three "citie- zen soldiers.'-' He -pointed out (.he uee, eossity for drill, or discipline, for dcfeuee did not merely involve shooting ; at an enemy from behind a wall; the i. defenders must know how ami when to s attack, and how to move about. The value of preparedness -\v is summed up I 111 Lord Beresford's words, "Battleships e( lire cheaper than battles.'' On the motion of Major Smith, votes .1 of thanks were accorded the Mayor for presiding, the Borough Council for the use of the Town Hal'!, and the Garrison Band for marching to the hall ami playing some capital music before the opening o£ the meeting.