PRECEPT AND PRACTICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 327, 20 January 1909, Page 4

PRECEPT AND PRACTICE.

To tire Editor. Sir,—During the past week ur two we liavo had a surfeit of Imperialism, ami ovcrybody who id anybody Ims beeu telling us liow to make volunteering "hum." .Major Alalouu told us at the baaipiet tile oilier night that nothing .would avail but the assistance of the newspapers and the ladies. What a combination < Lieutenant Knox seemed to reekon that national training anil I lie "lads in navy blue" were everything, But it remained for Mr. Okey, .11.1'., to show how the thing should he done. "Wait for the Opposition," he said. Reminds me of the old song, "Wait foi the waggon." According to him, when the present Opposition party gets into power, the volunteers are' going tc he well looked after. I don't want tc enlarge upon the <iuestio-,iable taste v. s . hibited by our member in introducin« polities at social functions. That luibeen sufficiently discussed. Hut, thi remark itself calls for some notiee Politicians are telling us that l'arlia "lent is but what the people make il and that a party i 3 the rellex of tin opinions of the individual members o it. A party must be judged upon th( performances of the members of Hi, party. What arc Jlr Okev's perform ances in this respect. He lias live sons 1 believe, yet how many of them Iris hi induced to join the volunteer companies '"or whose welfare he now displays si j 'mich concern? The volunteers an what the people make them, and if Jlr "key and other fathers of strappim sons allow the youth of the community to grow up without taking instructioi in the use of arms, nnat nonsense it i: for them to splutter about the failure of volunteering, and to lay the Maim nt the door of the Government. Jlr Okey was not good enough to inforii ,the gathering in what manner tin (.'overniuent had failed in its duly d the volunteers, or to offer a suggest im as to a more effective policy. At an\ late, if the other members of (he Opposi lion display their interest in volunteer iujr in the same way as our Taranak i JI.P.. the Opposition will be ,i weal. | "faff on which to rely. Trusting thai Hie imniirtance of the subject will la neeiiieil suilicient excuse for the length of my letter.—l am. etc., DIEHARD.