COMPULSION, DEFENCE, CONSCRIPTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10227, 2 May 1911, Page 5

COMPULSION, DEFENCE, CONSCRIPTION.

{To The Editor.']

Sir, — What do we mean by defence? What ,have we got to defend? Why all this fuss about our navy, and conscription, yea. compulsion, re the manning of our navy and tlie forming of an a*my? One hears all these questions asked daily, ; yea, and one more. Why should we go to war? Yet, training does not mean war, but to defend ourselves against that awful terror. Again, why compulsory training? Why not a well-devised scheme to" enrol a\ free citizen army? I say the Defence Bill, brought down and passed by the Ward Government, is an insult to the British Yaoe. Compulsion will, not be tolerated in Great Britain, although there is a law on the (Statute Book, forcing men in time of need. No English Government -of late; years dare .bring that; law., to bear on the people of the Old Coitn- j try.' True, we have something to. j defend. We have each a responsi- j bility. More wonderful than the j starry heavens is the responsibility in man. We have also privileges. What is the greatest privilege allow«d to humanity in this world-embrac-ing. British Empire? To be able to call themselves British subjects. Then, as such we will defend ourselves, for that reason if no other 'we will defend the Empire. As free men ' 'neath a free flag. We have boasted of a "free flag" for years, and now to have "conscription" written across the Union Jack! I cry "Shame!" "Give me one volunteer to three pressed men, and the" victory is mine." One of the world's greatest Generals passed that remark. As a Britisher, with many others I regard the , British Empire as the most potent, instrument that has ever been fashioned or conceived by man', for spreading the blessings of equal • rights of impartial justice of Christian service, and true chivalry, all over the world, and as Earl _ stated, I confidently anticipate that if we do not hurry unduly the processes of nature, we shall at the appointed hour see the realization of our Imperial hopes in the establishment of a system under which the self-governing units •£ the British Empire will share one with another the attributes and privileges of a full and equal citizenship. Then, I say, New Zealand has hurried, and I really believe Lord Roberts framed the Defence Bill, as far as compulsory training goes, so that he could stand up in Britain and; say, "Look ,■ at New Zealand ; it has carried compulsion'." But his remarks failed'to rouse. Only scorn and shame were hurled back at him, not the thoughtless cheers he expected. Has compulsion manned the great navy- we now have? I say "No!" And compulsion will not, protect it; but a I nation of free Britishers will proj toot, and as long as we are free j men, trained under the volunteer ! system, we can defy, because volunteers are patriots, and patriotism is victory. And on the sea we will remain, terrible, untamed, and let none escape who deign to touch our glory there. Twenty-two thousand volunteers laid down their lives in South Africa. Thousands more were ready and willing to do the same as free men, not pressed. Is that war alone an argument for the volunteer system? Yet one says, compulsory training is not conscription. Well, if it is not conscription, it is as many rungs up the ladder as I wish to see it. I love freedom—"British Freedom."— I am, etc., / ALFRED RIPPON. -