DEFENCE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 188, 9 August 1924, Page 11

DEFENCE NOTES.

i Tho training course for members of the E N Z A. commenced at Tre.ntham yesterday, and will conclude, on September o. The- "rd Battery, N.Z.A.. held its usual fortnightly parade at Uae DrtU HaU la*? Tuesday evening The Ausrust parade of the 4th (Howitzer) Bniwry, S.zX, was hel.l List Tuesday ulgut, i The correspondence course for K.C.O. s sit tin- for their first appointment elimination and junior officers seeking promotion ■will be discontinued at the end of the present month, and will be resumed again at the beginning oi next Ma - V - -Although v " new papeis will bo set, all outstanding papers returned after the end of the month will be corrected and returned, while correspondents, who so desire, may complete the number of papers already set, if they have not already done so. This number varies considerably in the different subjects. Now that the summer is approaching it is considered that trainees taking the course wIU i not have the same amount of time to devote Ito the papers, and in order to maintain the ! keen Interest which is now lining evinced iit has been decided to cancel the course . during the summer months. I Members of (he 4th Battery who nre I taking the correspondence course commenced a ten-day night and morning onnip at Narrow Neck this afternoon. The work to be covered deals chictly with the written lortion of tile examination, as this section Will be sat for on the 20th inst, while the ' practical section will not be held until next month. > The Headquarters Squadron of the 3rd Ancklani Mounted Rifles (HotrhtlPS dinners .and Siimallers) held their ordinary monthly parade last Tuesday evening. Although the conditions of th<> weather . left much to be desired, tlfc six days' course lof consolidated training for officers ana I N.C.CTs of Mounted Rllle units, which couI eluded at Narrow Neck on Thursday last, i was highly successful, and should be of inestimable value to all who took part. . Capt. M. E, Johnson, N.Z.S.C, was in j charge of the camp. '! Despite the fact that the Defence. DepnrtIment cannot see its way clear to offer any 'assistance towards the holding of voluntary week-end camps, as regards supplying •'the command which Is determined to con- .' tinue this excellent method of training. To comply with the regulations, six half-day ■ parades, or their equivalent, must be done (luring the year. As these half-day parades I inusi necessarily be held on Saturday altori noons during the summer months, It Is ral- ! culated that the drills will considerably ' interfere with criclce.t, tennis, rowing, ana other outside sports. In addition, it is cenertillv recognised that more benefit Is ' derived from one whole d.tj- parade than . from two half days. At this week's parade of the 4th Battery, the question in discus-' ' \ sion was referred to, ana memoers were ■ ' piven the option of putting in the six half- ; day drills, or attending the week-end camps !«t Narrow Neck, and pitying their own i expenses. It was unanimously agreed that - the latter course was preferable, and this unit will therefore -M.ntinue the week-end ( system of training. Members not attendina ' these camps will make up the drills by . attending the necessary nun.her of half-day .! parades with some oilier unit of the same anil. f With the object of establishing a firm ' 4th Battery have taken active steps towards - the formation of a battery cricket club. It ; is proposed that traais be entered in tlio I scond and third prads In th coinptirlons. ' second and third grades in the competitions. -■ I'onuitc infi'rmntion the formai timi of this ckib should be available within : the near future. •I ======