"IN A FOOL'S PARADISE."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 226, 17 September 1908, Page 3

"IN A FOOL'S PARADISE."

THE DEFENCE OF OCR COUNTRY. DISCUSSION IX THE HOUSE. by Telegraph.-Press Association. Wellington, Last Xight. In the House ot Representatives this evening, Ministers, in replying to questions, staled that Mr. MeXab's statement as reported in a Wellington paper in eonuection with the memorial to on Tenipsky at Te Xg.itu-ote-Maiiu, South Taranaki, that We in Xew Zealand were living in a fool's paradise, was correct. People were »aia to live in a fool's paradise when they held and a'led upon erroneous views" on vital questions, the erroneous view in this ease being that held by many ~0-oay that as we were at peace with all the world there was no call For young men tu join Ihe volunteer force uisacrilice time in the service.

Mr. Alien hoped Mr. MeXab's reply would be noted all over the Dominion, and that everyone would pay attention to Mr. MeXab's definition of a. fool's paradise. He hoped the Government would take i-teps to deal with the situation so described by the Minister for Defence. Mr. Massey cordially supported what Mr. Allen had said. Volunteering had never been at so low an ebb. The fact was that volunteers were not encouraged as they should be. (Hear, ~..,,-p. It was obvious we wanted something in lieu of or an addition to the present system. He thought all yonim under 21 should be compelled to go into training for two or three weeks every years. The Government was miuki:i-' the question.

Mr. Duncan agreed with I'iu- lu>. speaker, lie was not satisfied wiin the | way in which the work of the Defence Department was being carried out. Mr. McXab, replying to criticisms, said his reference to a "fool's paradise had been misconstrued into a condemnation on his part of the volunteer system. That was not the case. He did not condemn it one iota. His soie object had been to induce young men to think of a question which ivas usually! absent from their minds. The Premier said it was the constant care of the Government to sec that volunteers were well treated, and the Government had done a great deal for volunteers—a great deal more than they got credit for.