UNIVERSAL TRAIN NG.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 90, 12 May 1909, Page 4

UNIVERSAL TRAIN NG.

m I WHAT COMPULSION MEANS. | MR. McNAB'S DEFINITE SCHEME. TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND MEN IN THREE YEARS.

While the public is taking keen interest in the question of home defence, and the need for some form of compulsory training is daily becoming better recognised, nobody has come forward with a definite scheme suited to New Zealand conditions. The man in the street is asking who has to make the sacrifice, hut the answer has 1 so far been uncertain. The position has, however, been focussed by Mr. R. MeXab, whose long experience in the volunteer forces and actual administration of defence affairs makes him one of the leading New Zealand authorities on the subject. To a New Zealand Times representative the ux-Mimster detailed a scheme which could be applied to the , special conditions of New Zealand, and would in his opinion prove thoroughly workable. * 4 I have thought out a plan," remarked Mr. McNab, when the interveiwer's' object had been explained. "1 1 have thought out a scheme, and given attention to the obligations of all sections of the community, but I want it understood that I only submit a scheme to show that there are workable schemes, and that I am not advocating compulsory military service without any idea of the shape it should take if adopted as a principle. Naturally, it would be for the Parliament of the

country to draw up a scheme with what modifications it pleases." THE COMMENCEMENT. "1 would commence at. the age of about nineteen," said Mr. McNab, '"'and enforce compuls'ory training during a period of not more than five years. The first yearns training should be for a

period not exceeding one month, and ! during the other four years it should 1 not be more than a fortnight each year. The training should take place in fixed 1 camps, a camp being provided for each volunteer district, and men liable for service should be given the right c'f selecting a date at which they would go into camp. The camp could be run for four months, and the men given an opportunity of selecting any month. "So much for the first year's training. In regard to the other years, 1 would make the period include Eas'ter, so as to reduce to a minimum the inconvenience of a number of men being away irom any permanent establishment at the same time." NO EXEMPTIONS. Would you allow any individuals to buy their freedom from training? "Certainly not." replied Mr. McNab. "There would be no exemptions to the compulsion, except failure to pass the medical test, and possibly there would be no objection to allowing men who had others depending upon them for a livelihood applying in open court and getting exemption. I would make ad classes of the community go into camp together, and allow no reductions of time. If it were not convenient to those passing through their period of compulsion, they might after the first year's service be allowed to put in the whole oi their three years' period at one time. That, however, is a matter of detail. The men would b e paid for their attendance at camp. 'How much?* That is for Parliament to fix. 5 " A CHEAP SYSTEM. Do you think the financial burden would be heavy, Mr. McNab? "No; if the compulsory service was limited to three years it would not cost more than the present system until the third year," was the somewhat unexpected reassuring reply. "After the third year," continued Mr. McNab, " it would only cost a small amount more.*' : Hoiw do you expect to perform this fiiraeic? 'Mr, McNab modestly disclaimed any idea of achieving anything marvellous'. He pointed out that under the systeii outlined the State would no longer have to provide expensive uniforms to induce men to join the service. "I know of volunteer companies," lie continued, "who have adopted full dress uniforms simply to recruit. They have been i'orced to go into new uniforms on account of the success which attended those companies' which had already done so, thus heavily burdening the companies with deljt. The drill and us e of uniform would take place at one time, and the uniform would last longer in consequence. Then the enormous cost of having so many scattered camps for a few days each year would be reduced. The waste under the present system would more than pay the men a good wage. THE RESULTS, "Under a system limited to three year*' training, and counting upon a ten per cent, rejection by the medical authorities, we would get !)00U men annually into our camps, so that at the enu of three yea is there would be 20.000 men in cam])." What would happen to the pres'ent • volunteer*? "I would allow volunteers," replied Mr. McNab/ "to go in a* men whose compulsory term had expired, but the enthusiastic men would all be wanted for instructors, officers and non-commis-sioned officers, and in that way they could continue volunteer service. 1 know many ollicers who. if compulsory service were given effect to, would leave ,thei r companies at once and put in their military training at the camps. That feeling is widespread, as' I have discovered by being in personal touch with officers during the last Easter manoeuvres. so that I. am able to speak !ror the Southern ollicers/' EVASION UNLIKELY. •Haw would you prevent evasion of military -service? This question found Mr. MeNab quite prepared, for he had thought of the possibility of unpatriotic citizens making a secret of their ages and attempting to avoid the sacrifice for the common good. "I would penalise the man who doe»" not advise the military authorities when the military age comes. Defaulters who were discovered could be forced to undergo a longer period of training, but if you make th P penalty sufficient 1 do not think there would be any trouble. The school rolls will soon become useful as a guide to ages, and it is the experience in Norway and Switzerland that when a man's military ag t . is reaelied it is a matter of common notoriety, and people look askance at the individual who has not done his training. This feature is so marked that men physically unfit endeavor to get past the doctor by stratagem." "A fiUEAT LKYKIXEK," Finally Mr. .McNab turned to the social side of the question. ''Universal military training has." he declared, "proved eminently successful as a leveller of class distinctions, l>ecause.the 'on of the Premier has to go into camp, perhaps as a tent-mate with the son of the humblest man in the land, for they must all start together. Then there comes a time when they are ambitious for rank and go in for special training; which would be done between the camps. This rests on their oiwn individual merit. They start together, and probably the poor man's son goes on t»i..'' Tlie vntliusiiistie advocate of coni|iiilsiiiy military training will, with liis promised address to the citizens' of Wellington a week hence, open a platform cainpaign which is to hiclmle all .lie principal centre* of the Dominion. : 1 jro straight to Auckland after the Wellington meeting." said Ml'. JleXali, "and from Auckland I work South, addressing meetings in many centre-, and concluding at Invercargill."