TERRITORIAL FORCES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 248, 1 August 1941, Page 8

TERRITORIAL FORCES

MINISTER’S UNDERTAKING. (P.A.) AUCKLAND, July 31. An undertaking to give immediate consideration to several matters which are causing concern to serving members of the Territorial Force was given by the Minister for Defence) the Hon. F. Jones). The chief subjects brought to the attention of the Minister affect the present strength of many of the territorial units, the rate of recruiting, the amount of training, and the number ot absentee's at out-of-camp parades. Discussing the organisation and training of home defence forces generally, the Minister, said the Government' would have the advice of General Sir Guy Williams. He could not say at the moment whether the whole of General Williams’s report would be made public; but it might be possible to publish his conclusions. The Minister arrived this morning to welcome Mr Coates and returned to Wellington to-night. REPLACEMENT OF CLOTHING. WELLINGTON, July 31. Clothing which has become unserviceable through fair wear and tear is replaced to Territorials without charge, said the Minister of Defence, replying to a question in the House of Representatives by Mr J. A. Lee on behalf of the Hon. W. E. Barnard,' who asked the Minister if he would take steps to remove the anomalies which existed in the Territorial Forces over the replacement of clothing deficiencies.

Answering another question from Mr Barnard regarding the discrepancy in pay for Territorial officers and other ranks outside the intensive training period, the Hon. F. Jones said it had already been decided that Territorial officers and other ranks attending camps and courses are to be paid at home defence rates of pay with family allowances of 3s a day for a wife and Is 6d for each child under thri age of IC. The Minister also outlined rates of pay and allowances for medical and dental corps personnel, etc.