MILITARY TRAINING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10234, 10 May 1911, Page 5

MILITARY TRAINING.

v [To The Editor.]

Sir, — 1 have been iieanng and reading a great deal about the enforced military training. Some writer® decry such a mode of procedure, and call it slavery, but I think it is one of the most beneficial things that could occur in our seagirt. isles. In the ©vent of war, sudh a course would, in my opinion, prevent a great amount of waste time in getting our troops ready to meet an invading array, and in. -a time such as that, time counts for a lot. Besides, our boy® will have a much better idea how to conduct themselves. They would know how to use a rifle to get the best results, and they will understand the drill. Troops, without discipline are like a dog without a master. Thoughtless people talk of the arwxmvenience, but we will not always 'be in such a peaceful ist&te as we are at present. A time may come wihen there will be a call for trained men, and what more honourable voicaiic:;. can a man

want than to figlit, or help to light, his country's battles ? People of ? sarcastic turn view the scheme with great levity, and by -so doing are lii-

ly to turn the boys agaiiast it. The boys should be encouraged to mukd the 'best use of their opportunities, so that they should excel in 'such a useful mode of preparation for what may come to pass in the ensuing years. Qiiite a number of parents think that because their bovs are to

be initiated into the ways of warfare they will ibe taught something not beneficial to them. It is, however, only a superstitions dread 1 of the little word "Military."— I am, etc., RIFLE.