THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1909. COMPULSORY TRAINING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3182, 6 May 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1909. COMPULSORY TRAINING.

Once more a wave of feeling that a determined effort should be made by New Zealanders to ensure the safety of New Zealand seems to be passing over the country. Feeling on the matter is, no doubt, stronger at oii3 time than another, but it is satisfactory to note that the principle of compulsory and universal training is steadily finding increasing favour in the eyes of the public. To assist in the defence of his country is the first duty of every man, and seeing that we have innumerable laws which have to be obeyed in the interest of the general public, it is difficult to imagine upon what reasonable ground the compulsory service proposal c?n be objected to. In the Old Country there is a very strong feeling against compulsory service, although in days long gone by men used to march to battle at the behest of their lord without murmuring, and, probably, with a I very goodwill. The fealing at Home, I however, is nothing more than deeply rooted prejudice, which, unfortunately, prevails to such an extent as to constitute a- very real national danger. New Zeakand, however, is a young country, and early in the day we should lay down the plan that we intend to follow. We have the supreme satisfaction of realising that immunity against actual invasion, and the humiliation and terrible suffering that such an event would entail, can be secured by training the male population in the use of the rifle. This surely is not a great national undertaking, although the doing of it would be of incalculable national benefit. Furthermore, it should be noted that the degree of sacrifice that the people are called ' upon to make is but small. A certain amount of training, and attention to discipline would be necessary, but nothing involving drastic sacrifices would be required, while a limited efficiency in drill would be sufficient for aH purposes. An authority on defence matters has put the position very clear.., -.id succinctly to a Wellington pressman in the following wcrds:-—' 'There isonlv one means of

defending this country satisfactorily in case of a serious attack at some time in the future, and that is not by erecting half a dozen forts, which would be powerless to hinder an invasion, but to fill the country with men—population is what we want, as badly as Australia —and teach them the use of the rifle. Get that and your country's safe." Fresh impetus to the national defence movement is promised from an influential quarter. It is with extreme pleasure we note that Mr R. McNab, ex-Minister for Lands, has decided to stump the country as a missionary of the cause of compulsory training. Mr McNab hopes that he will have visited every electorate prior to the opening of Parliament. When he was Minister for Lands we could not agree with Mr McNab, and we were not sorry when we heard of his defeat, but no one who has fallowed his career can deny that Mr McNab is rilled with a spirit of genuine patriotism in regard to public life, and that he tries faithfully to perform whatever he considers is best in the public weal. Mr McNab's personal character and attainments are of a very high order, and he is deservedly respected for them throughout the Dominion. His addresses on the national defence movement should attract widespread attention, and will result, we trust, in furthering the great object that he has in view.