DEFENCE PLANS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1933, Page 11

DEFENCE PLANS.

the territorials.

PAYMENT FOR PARADES?

FOSTERING of recruiting. I The Prime Minister, in announcing the Government's Defence policy, made the following statement: "The Territorial force has a responsible task to perform in the defence of the Dominion. The Government's desire is suitably to recognise in a reasonable manner the re~ sponse of those who are prepared to devote their time to this essential service." At the present time the Territorial Array has a low divisional establishment, based on the voluntary system of enlistment. Trainees arc required to attend twelve drills during the year and six days in camp, exclusive of the days of arrival and departure, with the exception of tlu Mounted Rifles, whose camp period lasts pine dajs. Territorials are paid for six days' training in camp, at rates ranging from 4/ for privates, troopers or gunners, and upwards, according to rank. Clothing, equipment and rations are provided for the men while in camp. There is no pay for night parades, and no reimbursement of travelling expenses. Those trainees who are out of employment and those who receive small wages find jt difficult to pay even the necessary tram fares to attend parades. Those living four and five sections out from their drill centres naturally do a good deal of quiet "grousing" at the way they are treated in giving individual service. Week-end Parades. The territorial soldier is far keener 011 week-end parades" than on night drills, but in the intei-ests of administration and training it is necessary to have a percentage of the latter. Under compulsory military training those posted to the territorial forces were only paid for camp service, as at present, and no remuneration was given for night parades, which, were compulsory. During the course of a year there were 35 night drills. There were also a number of halfday and whole day parades —practically the same as under the new system of j voluntary enlistment. I

Whatever is contemplated by the Government in the way of remuneration will he well received by trainees, especially those who are not in a position at the present time to be out of pocket owing to the service they render. It is considered among territorial officers that remuneration of some sort for week-end parades would assist recruiting and efficiency. They point out that some ■units at the present time are parading at week-ends and bearing the whole expense. Such keenness, they say, should be encouraged in the interests of recruiting. Coast and Air Defence. The additional armament for coastal defence, forecast by the Prime Minister, will almost certainly include Auckland and Wellington.. It is-over 25 years ;£rnce any attention was paid to this form bf defence in the Dominion. Guns of the older patterns mounted in the coast defences were scrapped some years ago and evidently the new armament is to take their place. Fort Bastion was totally dismounted, but is still held as a defence reserve. North Head is to-day Auckland's only fort. . ' . The various aero clubs throughout the Dominion are doing excellent preliminary work in training pilots for the territorial force, and no doubt later on these volunteers will be given training, in the new service machines that are proposed under the new scheme. The 'planes that are in use are too slow for service conditions. Modern fighting machines are constructed to travel 220 miles and upwards an hour.

In the past officers of tlie permanent staff were sent for refresher courses not only to Australia, but to India and England, and if the scheme is resuscitated, as indicated by the Prime Minister, New Zealand officers will be kept well abreast of the times.