THE DOMINION DEFENCE SCHEME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2469, 6 April 1909, Page 5

THE DOMINION DEFENCE SCHEME.

A GISBORNE OPINION. «n In speakiug to a “Times” reporter yesterday on the proposal by the Government to abolish the Defence Council Captain Beere said that he would hardly care to express an opinion on the vague reports that had appeared in the press on the Government’s intentions, but he was afraid the ultimate aim was to abolish volunteering altogether. “If that is the case," said "Captain Beere. a large number or volunteers will be disappointed as many of them look forward to gaining the long-service medal, and already some' of them have served a number of years for that purpose. 11 volunteering is ultimately abolished those men will he deprived of their ambition and the credit of volunteering will be taken away. I think that would be a mistake, but the scheme as far as it has been disclosed is too vague as yet to criticise. DUNEDIN OFFICERS’ OPINIONS. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, April 5. Interviewed by a “Star” reporter regarding Sir Joseph Ward's speech, Lieutenant-Colonel Myers, a volunteer officer of lengthy experience, said the Government had not given sufficient encouragement for shooting, which was a first consideration in an effective scheme of defence. The greatest encouragement should be given to have teams from a distance shooting against one another. Better provision should be found for youths after they leave school cadet corps and before they are able, to join adult corps. If the Prime Minister would look after the lads or that intervening age he would find such an abundance of material as to. do away with all necessity for compulsory service. He also thought every qualified volunteer should have, the right to travel free for a fortnight over all railways,, and the ranks would be fi.lleds.in a month. The Hon. JY B. C-allan, who served eleven years in the volunteer force, said every youth should be_ obliged, between the ages of 18 and 25, to serve three or four years in a volunteer company. Were such a proposal carried our youths would acquire a knowledge of skirmishing, attack formation, and a hundred details, which would be of infinite use in active service. He. said that if Sir .Joseph \\ ard was going to establsh a system of universal training, without making it compulsory, he was curious to see how lie proposed to set about it.

RESOLUTION OF NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

AUCKLAND, April 5. At a meeting of the general council of the National Defence League, held to-day, it was unanimously resolved “that while congratulating the Government on its desire to introduce a national svstem of defensive training, as foreshadowed in the Premier’s speech of Friday last-, the National Defence League, "supported by the great body of the public, believes that uothing short- of the universal and eom]7?Toory military training of the youth of the country can prove effective for the defence of the Dominion.”