The Daily News SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11. NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 262, 11 December 1909, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11. NATIONAL DEFENCE.

One fact that is becoming clearer ev.?ry day is that much of the Government's proposed legislation is to' he sacrificed, at least till next session, owing to want of time. It is to be hoped, however, that the Government will not allow the session to close without passing into law their proposals for the universal training of the youth of the count:}'. Of all the great policy measures of tae Government, it is perhaps the most radical and far-reaching, yet it is the least contentious of tliem all. Hie feeling throughout the Dominion i'a.s developed into absolute and almost unanimous conviction that the time is ripe for dealing with the problem of defence on broad national lines, and no scheme has yet ueen devised to excel that now proposed—that every healthy youth, irrespective of class or creed, shall be trained in discipline and the use of arms. There have been but few objections raised against the scheme, in part or whole, and there have been strong expressions of approval made by organisations of everv kind throughout the Dominion. In short, on no other national question of the moment, is there visible the same consensus of profound and earnest public opinion. Tt has been borne home to the people that should danger threaten from any quarter, no effective resistance could be offered them. Happily, therefore, we ore no longer to live in a "fool's paradise," if "prompt and decisive action of the character proposed by tho Government i is brought into operation. The matter > is one apart altogether from all other political issues, one upon which all may unite on the common ground of national safety. From all quarters of the 'Dominion members are being urged to sup. port the Government's proposals, but, though multifarious reasons are advanced, none so cogently sum up public sentiment on the question as the letter issued bv the National Defence League, requesting members' consideration of the following points:—(l) The great and lasting security against war given the gradual appearance in the dominion of a whole population trained in its youth to defend the peace. (2) Hie • improvement in physique and in vjlfcontrol secured by our future by the training methods which fit thorn for the defence of the country, f'i) The growth of goodwill and synipa.hy by all classes inspired by the universal discharge of a common duty and by the [ wider conception of patriotism thus instilled into the youth of the Dominion. (4) The most intelligent, popular appreciation of the conditions under whl -h nations and empires exist, which must necessarily follow tho enrolment of all young men into a great national organisation for . self-preservation. (5) The benefit of national and individual discipline, and of the reasonable subordination of personal pleasures and individual inclinations of the legitimate and constitutional claims of the whole body of citizenship. (6) And not least—the increased reluctance to unnecessary Hid avoidable war, which will come' wlieu • hose who do the shouting must nl=o do the lighting. It may be added that universal defensive training is_ an auxiliary to, and n(!E a replacement of, naval defence. This is recognised by the great majo-Ry of naval men, and the British Navy League has placed itself on record ?'s wholly favorable to, and sympathetic with, the adoption of universal training

throughout the United Kingdom an! the ' oversea, dominions. Sir Joseph Ward's Bill is introduced to give cite t to the resolutions passed at the rcc.'ni Imperial Conference, which affirmed I lie necessity of standardising the forc&s of the Empire, and the proposals embolYd in the measure arc regarded by all who have, jiiven the defence problem serious thought as being essential to the safety of the country and the people.