THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10141, 19 January 1911, Page 5

THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

CRITICISED BY MR HOGG. J "A STEPPING-STONE TO CONSCRIPTION." In his address in Masterton last night, Mr Hogg said that he had done his share in opposing the Defence Scheme adopted by Parliament. He had held it up to derision. He had been a journalist himself ; he had a good hard skin—all Hoggs had that —and he cared nothing for newspaper criticism. The tears and imprecations of angry opponents only strengthened his courage because they indicated he was doing his duty. When he found the editor yelling out "We" as if he was everybody, he was inclined to say "Get theo behind me, Satan." The "We's" could hurl all the abuse they could manufacture out of Webster's Dictionary at him; he would only laugh at them. But j why did he oppose the Defence ' Scheme? Was he opposed to defence? Quite the contrary. No one appreciated the necessity for defence more than he did. But a full-dressed Highlander with his dirk and sword, and tartan hose and philaby all bejewelled and worth a thousand pounds to the nearest pawnbroker was no better on the field of battle than the most plainly dressed member of the Opaki* Rifle Club; perhaps not so good. The Government Defence Scheme had been twisting about for y«ars past like a fly pinned to the wall. For a + 'nj'; we were sampling imported Commandants, who came here like swallows to. enjoy a good season. | Then the officer that came back from South Africa: had to be"* provided for and those that'werenotplaced""oh 'sir retired list* :and pensioned* "o'ff "were* manufactured into a Defence Council. The Knyvett case and retrenchment fever knocked the stuffing out of this Council, and a Scheme that had for its priucipal feature compulsory drill was introduced. In company with Messrs McLaren and T. E. Taylor he opposed it. but the House had not the 1 backbone to support them, especially as the Government and Opposition were shoulder to shoulder. They had been doing a lot of that kind of fightI ing lately. In the meantime Lord Kitchener, who, in concert .with Lord Roberts, had been vainly trying to get the Imperial authorities in Great Britain to follow the example of the Continent arid agree to conscription, was invited to Australia. He was invited here, had a good time with the Cadets, scampered over the Dominion and left behind him a copy of his Australian prescription. Ministers, .apparently being pretty destitute of ideas of defence, adopted it. Tlie gist of the prescription appears on the Supplementary Estimates,. thus: —"Expense in connection with the visit of Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener, pay to Volunteers, provisions, travelling expenses, etc., £7961 2s 6'd." Now why do I object to Lord Kitchener';; scheme, for that is the scheme of the Government? Not so much on the score of expense as because .it means compulsory training, . a steppingstone to conscription. It has -bc>h the glory of the Old ,Country that" it always preserved the liberty and fren-. dom of the subject. Who are the advocates of compulsory training anc service ? The' ,blue-blooded Jingos of the Old Land; the Conservatives of the New World. Ministers had no trouble in carrying the Defence Bill, because they had a block vote from the Opposition. .< He .voted ..with pleasure for increased death duties.' because he considered the additional cost of defence should fall on the ; rich." who : we.rej-urging oiy r the' - movement. The age for compuJspry train-' - ing had been extended to twenty-five years, or long after our boys had left school, and after the time when not a few of them should bo married. He could understand an increased expenditure for the purpose of teaching our young men useful trades and giving them a start in life, but compulsory training he-considered a waste of life, energy and money. More than that, it was an insult. to the youth ,of New Zealand, who, during the Boer war, had only been too ready to enlist and who had alwayssupported the volunteer movement in the face of severe discouragement. Last year the. Defence Department cost for salaries and expenses £194,050; This year the vote was £219,000, cost of training grounds, pay of capitation, additional officers and equipment will bring up the annual cost, according to the Premier's estimate, to between £350.000 and £400,000. The cost, he believed, would run up to half-a-million:. In addition to this, the contribution to the Imperial navy': was £IOO,OOO, anjl tljis; lie did not : bcr grudge, because it was on the ocean that, the fighting would be -done if New ] . Zealand was ever attacked. The volunteers and rifle: clubs of this country; properly organised and equipped, were ■quite sufficient for our protection. Lord Kitchener's scheme might suit places that could not be shelled from the high sea, such as Egypt, South Africa, or Switzerland; but it was of little value to a maritime country like New Zealand. What became of the Defence vote? Where did the money go ? A lot of it we.it to keep up idle men for show purposes, Here are some of the items: Salarv. £ Commandant 1000 His Staff Officer 375 Imperial Steff Officer 650 Imperial Staff Officer 600 Chief of "General-Staff. ." . Q25 . Inspector-General 625 • Finance Member <' 425 Adjutant-General • 425 Staff Officer - 325 The list was a long one and included many others. Now, did they love the Old Land? Who dai'e question it? Did they esteoin it a duty to lighten its cares and responsibilities? If so they must build up a virile, powerful nation. That could only be done by attendKg to the foundations. They must begin at the school and see that nhvsical and mental training travelled together. Their youth of both sexes should have the opportunity of an abundance of healthy employment. Cadets, Volunteers, and Rifle Clubs should have every encouragement. Money need not be squandered. The maintenance of a mercenary force under a bevy of highly-paid officers was most undesirable in a young country, where useful work had to be done. He contended again that in an insular country like this, where almost every part could be shelled from the high seas, while an active, mobile coastguard might be desirable, their principal protection would depend on the. strength, eqxiipment .and : activity of .an ocean fleet.