NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE OF NEW ZEALAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8524, 30 August 1907, Page 5

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE OF NEW ZEALAND.

ADDRESS BY CAPTAIN McNAUGHT. At the Masterton Town Hall, last evening, Captain McNaught, organiser of the National Defence League of New Zealand, delivered an address on the aims and objects of the League. Mr E. McEwen presided. Apologies for absence were received from the Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine) and Captain W. J. Welch, of the Opaki Rifle Club. The Chairman briefly introduced the speaker. Captain McNaught said that it gave him great pleasure to bring under the notice of the people of Masterton the great question of compulsory universal training, and hoped to form a strung branch of the League in Masterton. He stated that the object of the League was to ensure domestic peace and security from all possible invasion by obtaining the national adoption of the following safeguards:— (a) Universal defensive training, either ashore or afloat, of all boys and young men until the age of 21, with encouragement of continued training. (b) All men engaged in every branch of the local maritime and waterside industries to be licensed: preference in all State employment and licensed occupations to British citizens who fulfil special training conditions. (c) All assisted immigration to be confined 'to British stock and to those who have fulfilled or agree to fulfil special training conditions. (d) Rifle ranges to be provided in every township, anc-5 Morris tube ranges in every urban and suburban school district. (e) Sufficient rifles to be kept in the country to arm every capable citizen, and sufficient ammunition in suitable centres to make all riflemen effective for defence. (f) Any other legitimate means for strengthening national defence. The adoption of the League's system could only be brought about by organisation throughout the colony. If the New Zealand Government made it compulsory that every young man in New Zealand should serve in the Volunteers there would be an outcry from Auckland to the Bluff, as the people would take it to be conscription. The national defence movement was inaugurated in Auckland, where the League was formed. ' Up to the present branches of the j League had been formed in the Waikato and Waihi districts, New Plymouth, Eltham, Stratford,Tnglewood, ; Hawera, Palmerston North, Napier and Hastings. The speaker stated that there was no question as to whether the aims and objects of the National League were necessary at the present time. Other nations were taking a hand in the race for supremacy. For years Great Britain had laughed at Lord Roberts' scheme for I a citizen army, but now the Imperial Government had . despatched several ; members of Parliament to Swiczerland to study the military system there, and the Swiss system was neither more nor less than universal training. Captain McNaught outlined the system in \ogue in Switzerland, and said Australia had recently sent one of her leading officers to study the workings of the Swiss system, and on his return had adopted the system on a modified scale. Canada was training.all her sons to the use of arms, and in discipline. "We all believe," said the speaker "that the defence of this colony is necessary the very fact of the exister.ce of the Volunteer systems was proof of this—but the Volunteers and Rifle CluDs had not received the encouragement from the Government that they deserved. Out of 20,000 Volunteers in the colony only 5,000 were competent shots. The Government had stated that the Volunteer system could go on for another year, and if more recruiting was not effected and better work done generally there was nothing for it but a system of compulsory universal training." It was the duty of every young man throughout New Zealand, continued the speaker, to take his share in the defence of the colony. Was New Zealand worth defending 1 ? Ho thought it certainly was. We were all proud of our colony, and of its being one of the links in a great Empire, and yet we • took no serious thought to keep and maintain it as such. If* we COU M in " culcate into the colony the same enthusiasm for the defence movement as was shown for football and other ( sports we would soon have an efficient system of defence. (Hear, hear). There was only one way to make the young men take their share in the defence of the colony, and that was to vote for compulsory universal training.' Mr Haldane, the British Minister for War, had said that i he only real safeguard against attack was a nation in arms. Something more was needed for defence than Volunteers. Referring* to national I supremacy, Captain McNaught stated that for years past Britain's navy had been maintained on a two-fowe; basis, that is, Britain's navy was equal to the navies of any other two first rate powers. He did not think, however, that England's force was as strong to-day as, say, the forces of Germany and America, and what did we find? British delegates at The Hague Peace Conference suggesting limitation of armaments and proposing that when a Power was about to build a battleship it should notify the other Powers of its inI tention; while Germany was building large cruisers as fast as she 1 possibly could, with the intention j of gaining national supremacy. The j speaker quoted some remarks made recently by the Duke of Devonshire, and drew the conclusion from them that Britain was quite prepared to defend us as far as the sea was concerned, but told us plainly that we must see to our own land defences. He was sure from certain facts that i our Premier and the other Premiers j at the Colonial Conference had rej ceived confidential information in I reference to the defence of the col- ! onies. Sir Joseph Ward had publicly | stated that he considered ail young | men should be prepared to take up arms in defence of this colony. Captain McNaught quoted figures to show that despite Germany's great ; expenditure on her army and navy ■ the money in her banks _ was increas-

ing much faster than the money in Britain's banks. The German population was increasing at the rate of 900,000, per year, while Great Britain's population was only increasing at the rate of 300,000 per year. Germany must expand, and obtain new territory, and her determination to further extend her territory was evidenced by the fact of her building so many new war vessels. Japan, which a few years ago was classed as a third-rate nation, was now in the first rank, and had practically command of the Eastern Hemisphere. "We are driving the Chinese and Japanese from our shores like rats to their holes," said the speaker, "and retaliation must follow." Captain McNaught exhorted his hearers to contemplate a combination of the millions of Japan and China. Sooner I or later we would have to fight for ' tur supremacy. The Defence Leap.u 3 was only asking three years' service from young colonials, and there was no intention of taking: them away from their hoir.es. It was no: for thi League to go into detail*; tney merely outlined the system. He considered that he had given the audience matter for reflection. An officer of the Swiss Army, whom he had met in Auckland, had outlined the Swiss system to him. The service was so complete that in 24 hours they could mobolise the whole of their troops. Here was a nation with a comparatively small population setting an example which greater Powers deemed it wise to follow. The national defence movement would not be a hardship to the youth of the country or to employers of labour. Under their system the colony instead of having 20,000 volunteers would be defended by 100,000 trained men. As a nation we were too fond of sport. When this universal training movement did come about, it must become the national pastime o' t ij colony, and be talked of in the homes as football was to-day. He advocated a day being set apart as a national day to keep the youth of the country alive to their duties in defence of the colony. On that day the youths serving would turn out for a military display. The subscription of members of the League was only one shilling per year, but: as funds were needed for organising the movement, he'had collected money for that purpose in. all the towns he had visited. Unless the Defence Council could give some privilege to Volunteers the movement would not "take on." He considered that after serving two years Volunteers should be granted a free railway pass available for one month' to any port of the colony. Although the Defence Council agreed with this proposal they considered the cost would be too great. But, said the speaker, it would cost the Government nothing. To show that the League had been doing something since its inauguration he stated that it was supported by the backbone of the country—the farmers. All the members of the Cabinet and the majority of the members of the Lower House were in favour of the movement, and were only waiting for the people to say they wanted universal training, when it would be granted. He hoped the people of Masterton would show their liberality and practical sympathy with the movement by subscribing a considerable amount of money in aid of the funds of the League. He stated that the following committee had been formed (subject to their approval) to organise a Masterton branch of the League:—The Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine), Revs. Dean MeKenna, A. M. Johnson and J. N. Buttle, Adjutant Cameron, Major Donald, Captains Welch and McKillop, Lieutenants Hosking and Brighting, and Messrs R. Brown, W. H. Jackson, W. H. Cruickahank, H. C. Robinson, G. Hyde, A. J. Cameron, M. C. O'Conneli, G. H. Perry, W. G. Beard. A. B. Lawrence, H. W. Mawley, Jas. Ewart, J. B. Moodie, N. D. Bunting, W. H. Fendall. G. C. Summerell, F. W. Carey, A. C. Major, W. B. Chennells* D. McLachlan, J. A. Hives, F. G. Moore, R. J. King, Duncan McGregor, H. Morrison, F. J. Hunn, Strachan, and H. M. Boddington. Mr H. C. Robinson moved that a branch of the National Defence League of New Zealand be formed in Masterton, and in doing so stated that all present were indebted to Captain McNaught for the able man ner in which he had placed the matter before them.

Mr G. Hyde seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Hearty votes of thanks to Captain McNaught for his able address, and to the Chairman, concluded the meeting.

A short musical programme was then rendered. Mr J. Candy played a clarionet solo, and Messrs F. J. Hunn, R. C. Nixon and W. Iggulden contributed songs, which were much appreciated. Mrs Hunn played the accompaniments. Those who had contributed items were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. A meeting of the local committee was then held, when the following; officers were elected:—President, the Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine); Hon. Secretary. Mr H. M. Boddington; Executive Commit ee, Captain Welch, Captain McKillop, Lieutenant Hosking, Lieutenant Brighting, Reg. Sergeant-Major Collier, and Messrs G. Hyce, H. C. Robinson, W. H. Jackson, R. J. King, and A. J. Camercn.

It was decided that the first meeting of the Executive should be held 01 Monday next, in Mr Beddington's office at 7.30 p.m. The Executive were empowered to elect vice-presidents and add to the general committee.

It was resolved to recommend to the Executivs that, in the interests of the movement, a patriotic concert should be arranged to take place at an early datte.