MILITARY TRAINING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 84, 18 July 1910, Page 2

MILITARY TRAINING.

FARMERS AND THE AGE LOUT. I The New Zealand Farmers' Union, ■ which had previously declared itself in I favor of compulsory military training, 1 took a further step at its Dominion Conference on Wednesday.

■Mr. Stewart (Otago) moved: That this Conference congratulate' the Premier on his decision to follow Lord Kitchener's advice in defence proposals, and raise the age limit of compulsory training to 25 years; and trusts" Parliament will treat the matter from a strong national standpoint, ...and "ot make it a matter of party H-olrWcs. " ' Chaytor (Marlborough) referred to political influence as the only danger, to the success and popularity'of compulsory training. Mr. Stewart opposed a suggestion to protest against the ; raising of the age limit. "Is the manhood of the country to sit on the hills and watch the boys go down to meet the I 'enemy?" he asked. "Are the Germans or the Japanese going to consult our convenience before they decide whether to come or no? It's all very well to decide whether you will have Free-trade or 'Protection, but the first is, ''Are we going to keep the country?" You musjt? decide how much the cfn'mtry is worth to you, and if you can't, afford to pay the amount, somebody else will. It would be necessary to train men until they were men, and then give enough training every year to keep them fit. The rapid changes in ' arms-made a soldier's knowledge soon go out of iclatje. (The details of the training scheme should bo left to' the Government. The men who called themselves the backbone of the .Country should give the Government every, assistance in such a matter. ~ Mr. W. J. Birch (Xjfarton), Ma J or Lusk (Te Kuiti), and Mr! E. Maxwell (Opu|nake) also supportell the extension of the training ftgeV.to 25. Mr. Schmitt /-Auckland) expressed a hope that the training camps would not call men away "from the farms m the busiest season. • ■ ' : Mr. F. G. Horrell (Canterbury) deplored the mention of nations by name by Mr. Stewart. The j;rrferenck to,- "party politics" in the motion.'was'struck out, and it was then Ga'rried. '' ' ''-■■'

A to the raising of the'age' limit.was allowed to lapse.