The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 5, 1911. "TAKE IT LYING DOWN!"

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 319, 5 June 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 5, 1911. "TAKE IT LYING DOWN!"

The time for the registration of those New Zealand youths liable for compulsory service will soon be past, and the presumption is that the authorities will at once proceed to set the law in motion not only to fine delinquents, but to enforce registration. There is already evidence of a more or less passive resistance to the benevolent compulsion that has no terrors on close examination, and it is extremely difficult to understand the attitude of those who oppose it, because if the law is carried out no opposition can avail. The machinery is not complete for the handling of all available material. Only an odd employer here and there has failed to grasp the point that his business will not be upset by the withdrawal of all his "hands." The arrangements are specifically designed to inflict the least dislocation possible. One'man has put forward the serious position that as jockey boys are mostly liable for service racing will be dreadfully disorganised! That is to say, the withdrawal of an odd jockey here and there at various times is a matter of more moment than the fact that tlie boy is made a unit of defence. A public man in the feouth, in protesting against military training, said that "New Zealand ought to take it lying down." That is to say, he recommended, in the case of attack, the instant surrender of New Zealand into foreign hands. We are familiar with the resister who "won't have his boys ordered about by every Dick, Tom and Harry." This type of person does not perhaps reflect that it is better to be ordered about by a "Dick, Tom and Harry" of his own blood than a Tung Haus or Togo of another race. The time for protests is over. The people as a whole did not protest to any violent extent before the principle was made law, and it is only by a national movement antagonistic to the system that it can be undone. Those who see in the mild form of military service the desire for blood are misguided. The sole idea in making New Zealand men competent to defend their women and children is to prevent war. and to be ready for it should it come this way. In the establishment of a citizen army there is nothing to hinder the growth of a great desire and movement for peace. A national military movement lias wide results. It inculcates love for country, self respect, duty to home and kindred, consideration for others, and respect for constituted authority. The value of the system of being able to call on every able-bodied man has been proved in Switzerland, where the spirit of emulation among citizen soldiers has helped to make the Swiss pattern citizens among whom crime is rare and who have the true love for their native land. It is obvious that the true spirit, is not always present in New Zealand, this being exemplified by the action of a southern corps which signified its intention of disbanding. It was at once shown that the "do as you like" system had vanished, and that no disbandment would be accepted. Individuals above the compulsory age may, of course, drop out, hut ve feel certain that in time the national prldo

in the national army will lie deep enough to make men strive for the honor of belonging to it. It is but a matter ol time before the resistors will cease resisting when it is definitely demonstrated that their resistance has no effect. On' the whole, the number of registrations are probably in excess of the number of youths required for service, b this does not exonerate those who have not registered. The enrolment of young men will necessitate their medical examination, nnd this will be of remarkable national and individual use. It will dei monstrate the proportion of physically fit men and be of service in checking the growth of unfitness. It is inevitable that the "cigarette" and "football" heart will be discovered, and as the large majority of examinations made will be of very young men, many weaknesses may be pointed out in time. People who fight against a system of military training probably forget that they are permitted to live in the finest country of the earth because of it. The person who objects to the men-folk of this country protecting it, have no right to share its advantages, and might reasonably condemn the means that were initially taken to make this country livable for them. It is necessary for these objectors to read the history of their race to be convinced that Britain does not owe her supreme position to "taking it lying down." The anti-training section may be listened to with some degree of toleration during an era of peace, but in time of stress their antagonism to selfprotection would be a mere absurdity. The world may be ripe for peace, but the world is not throwing down its arms. We belong to an Empire that is the envy of the world and the hatred of many nations. It is our duty to work for peace and to help to maintain it by our readiness. It is our privilege to strengthen { an Empire which keeps the peace of the world by its invulnerability. The safety of our own little country is our personal safety, and the safety of the home. The most pronounced anti-training advocate would make what preparation he could to defend his own homestead from marauders—and the nation is a congregation of homesteads whose safety is in the hands of united citizens. They will not "take it lying down" if the time comes for them to stand up. It seems good citizenship to stand up now in mild, peaceful preparation for eventualities.