CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 75, 19 September 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE CITIZKX ARMY. It is refreshing to know, on the authority of the Prime Minister, that there fcre to be no exemptions (except for physical defects) under the Defence Act. It was anticipated when the new sys» tern was.in construction that although the whole of the youths between the prescribed ages would be liable for service, many would not be called upon to serve. It is now clear that, when opportunity offers, every physically fit youth will be bound to undergo training. It was stated-without authority a while ago that the G.O.C. did not intend to press charges against those youngsters who openly flouted the law. If this had been true, it would have been the beginning of an entire break-down in a system, the most valuable part of which is in its disciplinary effect on youths-"Who warit it : 3o badly. The contemptuous youngsters who believe they have only to disobey the law in order to make it inoperative should at all costs be forced into compliance "to encourage the others," and there is no doubt that this will be done. The youths who are at present disobeying the law evince n peculiar typo of conceit. They believe they are in some oblique way heroes in defying the State. There is a distinct hope that this feature will disappear without trouble, especially when it becomes a matter of pride to belong to an organisation which will do an infinite amount of good to the youths of the country, physically and morally. We have already come across boys who have been rejected for physical reasons and who would give much to be able to fall in with their fellows. When the young New Zealander understands that it is an honor to belong to the service and a distinct disadvantage to be out of it, he will emulate the best of the youngsters who are to be a part of our national army. Arguments that because New Zealand has not been attacked in fifty years, she is therefore quite safe for another fifty years, arc being used as "a reason" why hoys should break the law. Apart altogether from its defensive signify canee the new force must create a national spirit, pride and camaradie unobtainable by any other means. The scornful young persons who are superior to defending their own fireside will be brought into line and will yet wonder what impelled them to mrfke laughing stocks of themselves. It is good to know that physical defects, unless very grave, will not debar a boy from compulsory service in the senior cadets. This is obviously because of the belief that discipline and physical training will improve the standard of health of weaklings and will help to allay the disappointment any ordinary boy would feel in being «n outsider, "

YOLIXTKKR POLICE. Mr. Winston Chun-hill i; about to organise corps of vi.iiinii vi police to cope with siii-h aliiiornuil coii.lHinns us wove apparent, din-ini;- tin- late strikes. Special constables with authority and ncvjtrainine,- have been used with varying miccoss on many occasions from the lime of the Chartist riots to the present. .Li v. 11. is u.-nal when vo'unC'i is arc called on for I his work for men of siandin.v; to enrol ami j.-mfrailv bccaii-.c of ihcir social position they'are disked in their capacity as constables. The weakness of these special corps (;,,„! (Ids was ino-t noted in I lie Charli-. di-diirbances.) lays in the fact lhal the) are al tired in civilian jjarh and' arc ii:-ia:i!!y recognisable to-the people iiniou-- whom UicV arc supposed to keep order. On many occasions these vo!nn'e ( r ; -dice have been Hie special subj.-,-!: , ;' -n I e -k bv iilo'.-. do resented liu'iv i;; ~' . ,;,e It

sa:n- p!,;-: villi vol,nil:-- oo".;- a. with v-uuiteer [.roups-, make Hum put, and parcel of the. local fore". 11-i'de to be trained with them anil nnif •r.i:c;l alike. It has been forcibly dennm-tli-ated that special constable* in civilian clothes in time of riot merely complicate the situa-

t-inn, ami fivi|ii -it(T-. !Y .„ , ~. zca ] maki' ;i liiii'jliin.r ..■ ; •:, . force. 'l'll- l ivrni,.."U(:-i,''"-: ; .. : ■ ■ ■ rcyiud for tin- cdiisl;ililr, re, ~■,.;.. '. ,(-, |,', ; s i'iinillc.l for :|w, i(i, ,1, . , J |,„ ,l„ it. Till' oil' 1 .. \v:r. 1,, : '.Vi-.l:l"(> l!|-iii:-'li.r r. <jktl. ll,v , !,„,,",. or Iho .-ocici v man V- '"!.■,' ,i.w(,iori. when rillicr i,-; i!,,! , ■ ~V , !„|, y , i s lo «arb lilm in ,■,...••'.:■ „ , ;-,,' iliu | bid him for IV i' , ! ':,:>; Lhii be is au\ thing I,ill. :, nviv -.lMin Hop/'