SOUND ADVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 223, 19 March 1912, Page 4

SOUND ADVICE.

In inflicting fines as the penalty for some young men at Napier refusing to enrol as Territorials, Mr. McCarthy. S.M., made some interesting remarks with regard to compulsory military training. His Worship, after referring to the scheme of defence adopted by the Legislature, said: Looking at the matter irom a broad and common-sense IHit he sometimes wondered if those who 'objected to serve under the Act could ever recollect that they were units of a great Empire, if they considered that that Empire was worth preserving, and if so was it not their duty to take part in defending it? That was one aspect of the case. Another aspect forced itself on Ins mind. He found, not only amon« young men and young women,'but also among their elders, people who revolted against all authority, and there was a tendency among them to evade their duties to the State.. He found, also, that there were persons who had no scruples in entering a court of justice flippantly taking the oath and proceeding to give untrue evidence, sometimes with the view of preventing some person

who had committed a crime receiving the punishment that was his due. This revolt against authority was far too common, and it seemed to him that seme form of training might at least tend to ameliorate the evil of inculcating among the youth of the Dominion habits of obedience. They would find, if they followed up their training, and abstained from hanging round street corners at night, they would be more healthy and in every way better citizens.