At the Caxton Hall on Wednesday, Mr. W. M. Hughes,
Member of the Parliament of the Australian Commonwealth,
gave an address on "Compulsory Military Training from the Point of View of an Australian Labour Leader," in which he advocated universal training, but not conscription. Those who believed that they were one and the same thing were entirely and fundamentally wrong. Those of his thinking believed in the Cadet system, and the subsequent grading of youths and men into the second, third, and fourth lines, thus always having youths ready to fight if necessary. After a striking speech from Mr. Leo Maass, Lord Roberts, speaking on behalf of the National Service League, congratulated Mr. Hughes on the excellence of his speech, and expressed surprise that "sensible and intelligent men could be misled by cant phrases about militarism and conscription, and could object to a system based upon the principle that every able-bodied man, whatever his rank, wealth, or position, should be pre- pared to take his part in the defence of his country." There was no question at all of national-service men being sent abroad unless they wished it. We have dealt with the whole matter elsewhere, but must here tender our heartiest thanks to Mr. Hughes for the great help which he has given the cause of national training. No one can arraign his right to speak as a Labour man and as a democrat. Re is as sound in logic as in sentiment when he repudiates the notion that there is anything antagonistic to democracy in teaching the citizen how to defend himself, his country, and his liberties.
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