COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2659, 15 November 1909, Page 5

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING.

statement by the premier.

[Per Press Association.'! CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 13. The Prime Minister, discussing the question of compulsory military training, said two camps should be established within a reasonable distance from the trunk system of railway in both islands. They required at Jeast 12,000 acres for each camp (15,000 acres would he better). The whole of the necessary equipment would he permanently established at both centres, and instructional staffs bo resident at the camps to enable the work that was regarded as so essential in the matter of training to be readily available for those taking part. The- general arrangements would be such that men could lie in attendance at suitable times throughout the year, so as to receive the undeniable benefits referred to. ■With large areas of land every branch of military training could be carried out, and: the areas must be sufficiently large to ensure that training generally was carried out in a practical way. Instead of the irregular and uncertain system of what wa§ known as Easter camps there would be a recognised and definite system of progressive military work at camps required to be in central positions in both islands, so that instead of men being carried long distances in one direction they would impinge upon a given centre from the extreme ends of each island, thus evading the present unsatisfactory system of long-distance travelling. As soon as legislation was outlined by Parliament the requisite land in both islands woidd be set aside for the camps. On the score of economy the buildings that were required when large bodies of men were massed, being of a permanent nature, should in the long run effect a considerable saving.

SUPPORTED BY NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

AUCKLAND, Nov. 1* The General Council • f tre Nations l Defence League considered the Prune Ministers Budget statement on unernal defence last night, and '•••solved^ — “That the Central Council of the National Defence League, having considered the genera] proposals for universal training submitted to Parliamentin the Budget speech, urges all branches and individual members of the League t-o exert their influence at this juncture in support of the proposals.”