COMPULSORY TRAINING

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10679, 6 July 1912, Page 5

COMPULSORY TRAINING

DEBATED IN THE HOUSE.

ANTI.MILITAEJSTS' PROTEST,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, .Last Night

Wihco tlio ivpmt <f [hi Defence Department was pr&scuted irr the House of Kfprtwn'.aiacs tiki's afternoon, Mr John Fay-no, member for Grey T/vin. rcs:< rrO pi id that the time Giad now arrived for a full discussion; of the (compulsory clauses of the Defence Act. He hold that the country wak tnot geftiting an adequate return for the amount rroer>>. Compulsory training' did not coniform with the best traditions of the 'British Empire. They should get a more efficient service oirt rf the amcunlfc which was being spout on the sohemlo. In his idcia, two thousand rm-en would be to ideal a'rany to protect the country by 'gue'riEia warfare, with tine asdstantb cf an aen/al n\et and reivri,ne mines. He objected to the suggestion implied by ths* - compulsory clau&ee of the Act that New Zealanders woulkl not fight uavlelss' compelled. All mein' earning over £SOOO a year should take their places beside the youths of tlhe couritiry. Mr T. M. WeJford (.Hutt) aa-:d Mr Payne did not understand the posit',on. It he would broaden, litis vision, hj& would 'sc'3- that there was a grave danger apparent. He did not know of a world danger which existed. He cduld inlfcrm 'him that there were 50,(XX) drilled Jcpancr.o in Honolulu. In New Caledonia and the Philippines a eimfllar stato cf affairs Existed. The safety cf New Z ( ?«kvnd depended on the rn«aik-naitee cf the-' British Navy. Tf the fke't wofe ckfcuftied in the North S'cia cw vile Medici raucan that would 'be. the.'end of New Zealand. It would promptly be "collared" by the Japanese or Cliincete'. H'2> would abolish the age limit and make every man come out. What was absolutely necessary cm warfare' .was disttpKne, and that er/uld only foe -'acquired by training. He hoped the compulsory claii6.es of tho Act would be retained.

Mr .Hindmarslh (Wellington South) objeetocl to the possibilities' of a military caste growing tip im the country ■a.s r.. '.•esui't of the pi'3t»i!Jit isystem >j£ militarism. Every time a State or p!.!ib-l : L' iPunotioiT occurred, all the best positions were occupied .by the miliii y. As miucih money liad been .spent Jaisit yo:vr on military training as bad 'been snort on the schools. ±>: L. M. foitt vChr:sech-r.r.'ch) urged the nvxWidit : o'n cf tb? compulsory clauses of tlhe Act. The chances of invasion by the Jopaneso or Chinese v.fcroi very .rerocte for the- uexit '23 years.

uMir Robertson (Otaki) said the Act ivac not Democratic; nor did it provide for defence. He wr.r.'iod a modification of the compulsory clauses. The Prime .Minister said the GovorniKi&iufc was resolved to persist in the uysts-m of inii'iitary training. The Government had asked Lord Kitchen* for a. report on the defence of the. country, and 'they had endeavoured to live up to iflie 'advice tendered. He though!!; they ehou-Vi train the young men of the a-.iin.t-ry to defend it. He could go faiirther and say "they should traini thiem." He would not say that the .scheme wae perfect. They must have time to develop it. So far, the working of the ischemic had been most a'.:oal.Gfid„ and ilk- 'count.ry was deeply indebted to the farmers and employers for tho manner in which they have Vnsscsitod. Modifications were necessary in l coiindetion with ira-prison-ment, a!eo coiif>oien tioiis object r:. 'Of the latter, t!iC'i 1 e wero two <!>.i~.scs —thouj v.Uio' wislicd to re/.rk their obligations and responsi-b-Jliti-x 1 , and those -who were really anxious to da their duty, but objecte'd ■jj msitar'.s.<m, and wore- wi-iKing to i&erve i:v come ether way. Hie hoped coircOhimg would be done for the la.t■tc'i' tila.sr.s. Tho statement that defe.i'co ln'J '.:::'■.!; .more 'thr,v education wr.s incorrect. Military defence had cost dE-ICOjQ'X) for the year, and educaeio:i over a tnilliai. Tn his epir.'on, d:U:moo should occupy the- first position-, in -pin-v Goveriun v ent.

The Hon. A. M. Myers. Minister olf Dofeuco, fflid tho present was not tho time to go into the wJv:;le matter of defcace. He regroti:ed tho attijtude taken up by Mr Payne. No ptr-srn- oould take -exception to yeiuvg hvelft being '.hkon in band and di'serpliued. Mentally, morally, and im ovwy way the uyittcr had been thoroughly investigated by men who l:ia-d spent their whole livos- in- studying L-lio q-iuisitron, and their views 'lr.'iiet be i.akc.n as- c-xpe-rt