THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1908. UNIVERSAL TRAINING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9176, 27 August 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1908. UNIVERSAL TRAINING.

When the Commonwealth Parliament meets in September one of its first duties will be tha consideration of Mr Deakin's scheme for universal military training for all young men in Australia. The scheme as outlined by the Prime Minister last year has been the subject of much discussion and criticism, and it is by no means certain that it will .become law. There are many people with an apparently incurable dislike to anything of the kind. They conjure up visions of conscription and proclaim the inalienable right of every Briton to the personal liberty that leaves him free to neglect one of his primary duties, the defence of his home and his country. They quote with approval the saying that "One volunteer is worth three pressed men," which is true enough so far as it goes, but is not wholly applicable to a consideration of the merits of a scheme of universal training. What is to be done when the volunteer resolutely declines to offer his services, as is the case to a very large degree in Australia and at Home? That is an aspect of the question which must be kept prominently in the front when Mr Deakin's proposals are being discussed. Volunteering in Australia is at a low ebb just now. The Melbourne "Age" lately declared that the existing military forces only touch the fringe of the population, and small as they are, only one man in three is a marksman. Mr Deakin suggests a plan by which in a fr»w years 800,000 men .under forty years of age willhave parsed through the

National Guard, having spent sixteen days annually for three years in efficient military training. The strongest criticism of the scheme that was made by the military contributor to the London "Times" was that the period of training was too short; it certainly compares badly with the sixty-five days spent by the Swiss infantryman in preliminary training. But it would j be a great step in advance if this proposal were agreed to, for it would establish the principle that it is the i duty of the State to sea that every man fit to bear arms can take a share in home defence —the extension of the principle might come about in tims.