MILITARY SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2465, 1 April 1909, Page 3

MILITARY SERVICE.

UNIVERSAL TRAINING

OFFICER’S OPINIONS

Captain Beere was yesterday asked by “Times” reporter to express an opinion upon the proposed universal military service which it is anticipated will be instituted shortly by the Government upon all youths between 17 and 21 years of age. Captain Beere said he welcomed the proposal, for in the interests of the community generally every man. should be able to bear a rifle,. not with the sole object of active service, as so much for the advantages to be obtained from a military training, for it was generally admitted: by employers that a man trained . young, learned discipline, and made a much-bet-ter employee. Universal military service, the Captain thought, would also raise the dignity of volunteering, give it a fresh impetus and cause more ambition among men to rise above the ranks. Volunteers gave no small amount of time, which meant money, to tlieir training, and that fact should be appreciated by the people.. The loss of time to t-lie men,- Captain Beere thought, could be made up in many ways. The franchise could be refused to "all men unless physically unfit, who refused to serve the required time, and an inducement that would . be appreciated would be a. month’s free railway mss for each man that had comp.eted his service efficiently. The old age pension might also be made payable at o years under the usual age to old volunteers, and as it would be an advantage to- train marksmen, local bodies nngnt be allowed to;set aside a percentage of their revenue for the encouragement ol rifle shooting. ‘.‘Universal service, said Captain Beere in conclusion, .would lead the public to take Interest m military matters arid realise the duty or the citizens to those.- men-, who tram to defend the; country.” - . . When asked to express an opinion on the subject Lieut. C Holder Evans said that compulsory military training was the best 'thing that could possib y happen for the defence of kew Zealand for many reasons, chief of v, riioh was that a military training was .the education a young man could have, even if he never saw active service. The volunteers, lie, thought, would bo highlv delighted at the prospect of the masses being enrolled, and as an od volunteer he vrM glad to see that the advantages of volunteering were to be recognised. The movement .was a good o nc, E Ud h,. had BO doubt that .tW p i a yed by the press in continually ulu-;

•eating the public to tlie need for the adequate defence of New Zealand had had some influence in the decision of the Government to create a reserve force. The idea to train young men, he also thought,-was. a wise one, because men of middlo age could not- be trained .as quickly as younger men, whose bodies were more supple,, and who were just entering upon serious life. The . compulsory system of militia would, Lieut. Evans concluded,'be a big tiling for tlie future of 'New Zealand.