PURELY FOR DEFENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9071, 23 April 1908, Page 3

PURELY FOR DEFENCE.

At the first annual meeting of delegates representing the branches of the National Defence League of New Zealand, held at Wellington on Tuesday, Mr Robinson, of Masterton moved, and it was agreed to, "That there be now established district councils at Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, B!enheim, Hokitika, Ghrist:hurch, Wanganui, Dunedin, and Inyercargil, and territorial limits of each district council to be defined, and from time to time varied, by the General Council." OBJECTS AND METHODS. It was proposed that the objects of the league be defined as follow*: To ensure domestic peace and security from all possible invasion by obtaining the national adoption of thp following safeguards:— (a) Universal defensive training, either ashore or afloat, of all boys and young men until the age of 21, wtih encouragement of continued training. (b) All men engaged in every branch of the local maritime and wateraide 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 beconfined 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, and 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) And other legitimate means for strengthening national defence.

Some objection was made to provisions of clausej c, which was said to be invidious to same reputable citizens of NeV Zealand, such as Scandanavians, who have settled here, reared big families, arid had a thorough interest in the country. Mr Robinson moved that the clause .be deleted, but it was lost on a show of hands. Clause b met with general commendation,JJand regret was expressed at the increasing ratio of foreigners amongst the Australian mercantile marine. One delegate asserted that there were now over * fifty per cent, of foreigners in the service—men who would do nothing for the country in time of war. All the foieToing objects were affirmed and adopted, and a lengthy list of "methods" was also read and adopted.