THE JUMPING GAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2214, 11 June 1908, Page 1

THE JUMPING GAT.

CULT OF WARD GOVERNMENT. A QUESTION OF MILITARY TRAINING. The Ward Government’s cult of the Jumping' Cat is particularly devout when (says the Wellington “Post”) there is question of military training. The eyes <of all the Cabinet' as the Minister for Defence assures us, are .fixed upon the Animal. 11 n. is inert, tile Government is passive; if it crouches, the Government wakes

up; when it jumps, the Go/)• lament wall be found jumping too. At present, tlie Alinistor for Defence sees no signs of movement. At the opening of the Buckle-street drill-shed, he told his audience his opinion that “tho time was not ripe”—tho Cat was not ready —foir obligatory milita'ry service in New Zealand. Wo are aware, of course, thnt in somo people’s minds tho time will never bo "ripe until foreign ‘trpops are, landed , and tho noiso of foreign guns .is in our pare. Those who-believe in preparing for tho day of judgment before' it comes should bestir themselves actively. The weight o'f a resolution ■sueih as that .passed by the Farmers’ Uiiion Conference is considerable. Other representative bodies should follow suit. The question should bo part .definitely before Parliamentary candidates; and during the final session of tho present Parliament tho opinion of membei's should bo tested. Tho point whether defence is to bo real or a sham must bo considered by every prudent elector who casts a vote. In his children’s interest, if not in his own, it is every man’s business to seo that New Zealand is made, so far as we can make it, not only a pleasant country to live in, but a safe country to live in. The Leader of the Opposition, we believe, is still malting up bis mind upon this vital matter. At Auckland, recently, lie spoke in favor of increasing the Naval Subsidy to £IOO,OOO yearly. The host .argument for this is not tho argument that tlie increased need of Now Zealand justifies it and the increased wealth of New Zealand can provide it. Our subsidy is small, but not “ridiculously small,” in companison to the 'British .payment. Britain takes the lion’s share of payment, because she gets the lion’s share of naval protection. We agree 'with Mr Garland, secretary to the Auckland executive of the Farmers’ Union, that resolutions on the subject of general military training should' consider the volunteer system, and should have reference to a definite scheme witlh a calculable cost —.making the change of system gradual, und developing by degrees responsibility at various .ago?. Air Massey has .now a chance to mVow that tlie Opposition is noit wholly a conservative party, with eyes fixed on .the past, but k .as much concerned with the failure as the rest of us are. AVili he take it? >