TERRITORIALS' PAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1938, Page 6

TERRITORIALS' PAY.

How many young men have been deterred „ from joining the Territorial Force, or, having [j joined it, have been slack in their attendances, i- because they thought the pay and allowances insufficient? Without knowing the answer to a that question it is impossible to gauge the r effect of the increases in pay and allowances \ announced yesterday by the Minister oi i, Defence. The principle adopted—that nc trainee should be out of pocket as the result of attendance at parades and camps—will be universally approved. There are othei changes, including increases in grants tt develop sporting and recreational facilities, which,- together with the higher pay, indicate the Government's recognition—belated, bul welcome—of the need of improving the material conditions of service. They repres.snl what- must be regarded as the final effort tc ■ make the voluntary system successful. Colonel Gambrill, one of the four who resigned recently, while giving the Minister of Defence full credit for his belief that the present force can cope with the defence of the Dominion is, with his colleagues, definitely oi opinion, that the policy cannot be effective. His frank statement that the officers in issuing their manifesto knew that they erred, but took the view that the safety of the country was of more importance than the King's Regulations, must be accepted as a grave warning from men who have made a lifelong study of defence problems. Believing that 'the programme which has given the country perhaps 3000 fit and partially trained men, asked volunteers to undertake tasks foi which they Were unfitted and which might cost them their lives, the officers issued theii manifesto in the hope that it might pave the way for .a new and more efficient system. Colonel Gambrill is probably right when he says that a force of 140,000 men trained, armed and equipped, would win a bloodless victory, but how long it would take to train a reserve of the size, mentioned is not apparent, nor is it clear what it would be called upon to do. It is realised, however," that this Dominion may be thrown entirely upon its own resources in the event of the world's peace being shattered, and, while the Ministers proposals may be regarded with approval-as a useful instalment, an immediate mveshgatjon. of th « Dominion's defensive Heeds and aims should be made. Upon tkc results of that inquiry a new policy defined and quickly put into operation.