CANCELLATION OF CAMPS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17986, 3 April 1930, Page 9

CANCELLATION OF CAMPS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In his comments on the sub- j ject of military camps your correspon- | dent “Patriotic” betrays that he has < fallen a prey to the old iallacy that ( wars always have been and always will be the only means of arbitration. He says, inter alia: “There is little change” in human nature and a settlement of differences by combat will always be sought. Although the weapons used will differ at different periods of history.” In the next breath “Patriotic” says: “While hoping that, ■world peace will always be maintained.” What is the good of hoping if, according to his theory, war is inevitable? If “Patriotic” possessed an elementary knowledge of history he would know that history shows that man is not instinctively pugnacious. In the first period of civilisation fordhousands of years men lived and worked together; force and violence were unknown. A combination of circumstances has led to war, which is a product of the “Iron Age,” or third period of civilisation; Is it not reasonable to assert that a combination of circumstances can also produce everlasting peace? “Patriotic’s” letter is a typical expression of the viewpoint held by a certain military-minded section of the community who display a pitiful ignorance of the great lessons of history and the equally great teachings of philosophy. “Patriotic” argues that physical development is a reason why the camps should be retained. There is already compulsory physical education in the Dominion. Surely it is hardly worth while to bolster up a system which is the direct cause of racial hatred and warfare for the sake of ensuring physical perfection? In conclusion, may I inform “Patriotic” that I did not write to dodge drill for myself and friends, although such an action would be excusable when drill shows a 14-year-old boy how best to insert a bayonet into a fellow man.— I am, etc., .NU HUMBUG.