GOOD PROSPECTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 118, 21 May 1931, Page 3

GOOD PROSPECTS.

NEW DEFENCE SYSTEM.

GENERAL BURGESS CONFIDENT DETAILS OF PROPOSALS. (By Telegraph.—Spocial to " Star.") HAMILTON, this day. "If tlie new voluntary military establishment does not prove a success, and something worth while as a defence force, it will not be the fault of the officers and N.C.O.'s," declared MajorGeneral Sinclair Burgess, 0.C., New Zealand Military Forces, in a statement to the "Star" to-day. He holds great hopes of the success of the new establishment, which he says will be practically the old territorial system, on a voluntary basis. The identity of all former units will be maintained as far as possible, and the age of enlistment will be widened to IS to 25 years.

It was very reassuring, he said, to see the way in which the officers . and N.C.O.'s carried on during the past twelve months of anxiety and uncertainty. Their conduct had exceeded the highest expectations.

Individual Training. Asked if he considered the period of obligatory training under the new scheme—that is, six night parades, two afternoon parades and a continuous six days in camp—sufficient to turn out an efficient force, Major-General Burgess said it was proposed to give careful individual training before massed assemblies in camp. Detailed instructions would shortly be issued on the general principles of training to be. followed. These would show how it was proposed to get the best results. Obligatory training would not restrict units to train on such stipulated occasions only. It would be quite open to local units to hold as many voluntary parades as they chose. He felt that the "pride of the regiment" spirit would result in that course being followed very considerably. In the interests of efficiency, a full peace-time, establishment of officers and N.C.O.'s would be maintained, and the units would be given every facility and encouragement in training. The full peace establishment of all ranks would number about 10,000. Instructions would be given from time to time to those desiring to qualify in different special branches of service.

Questioned regarding the position of senior cadets, he said the only cadets in training at present were those of the •secondary schools. In their training they would receive every encouragement from the Defence Department, and in the last year would be given an opportunity of specialising.

Attitude of Employers. Asked if there would be any compulsion on employers to allow employees who were volunteers to go into camp, he said there would not. From the experience of the past, however, he did not think there would be any trouble on that score. The .success of camps depended not only on the enthusiasm of the men, but on the co-operation of employers.

The divisional organisation -would be retained. A division was the smallest self-contained unit that could operate on its own in the event of war. Such an organisation was essential for home defence, and as a force to fit in with any Dominion or Imperial forces in the event of war. The battalions raised in country districts would not be expected to reach the strength of those in the cities, although they would be of sufficient strength to be workable.

A Real Uniform. One matter which seemed trivial in itself, but which loomed large in the mind of the rank and file was that of the uniform. The old, ill-fitting slacks of war duys, which were the bugbear of every infantryman, were to go. The uniform of all branches of the services would in actual fact be a uniform, in material, colour and cut, and members of the infantry ranks would be provided with breeches, just as the artilleryman and members of other units were. The new scheme will operate on June