OUR DEFENCE FORCES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 142, 24 September 1910, Page 5

OUR DEFENCE FORCES

BIbLL READ A SECOND TIME. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, September 23. After • midnight, Sir William Steward, , Messrs. Thomson (Dunedin), Hanao, Malcolm, Wilford, Lang, Taylor, Mapder and Wright continued the debate. Sir Joseph Ward, in replying, expressed satisfaction at the reception, of the Bill, and especially at Mr. Allen's speech, The defence policy, he said, ought to be kept above party strife. Replying to Mr. Allen, the Premier said that the system of training would be compulsory, and the voluntary system would be dispenser with. He was not in favor of a mimic army in connection with cadets. Every enoouragemmt would 'be given cadets, so that they might combine their defence training with ordinary education. TJW suggestion of Mr. Allen of the exemption of certain classes, pnd doing away with the selective system, was one he (the Premier) would be glad to look into. He did not think that there was any danger of creating military autocracy in the Dominion. What was wanted was thorough organisation, which should be kept free of all party influence. New Zealand's isolation did not remove the responsibility for defence. One \f the moat important of Lord Kitchener's ncom- . mentations was the raising of the We from 21 to 26, atod members who tome exception to this ought not to overlook the foot that the number of men, affected could not exceed 7000, w>hicff\ would be spread over the Dominion. s He had not heard any opposition to this proposal in any part of the Dominion; but, on the contrary, it had been generally supported. He . agreed with Mr. Allen that men in the Terri- ' torials should be proud of the part they are taking in the defence of their country. The Bill was read a second time on the voices, and the House row 2 a.m.