TRAINING FOR DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 254, 27 October 1938, Page 8

TRAINING FOR DEFENCE.

REFRESHER COURSE SUGGESTED

(To tlie Editor.)

J. Stonehurst's letter called for talking and notion. There arc many ex-rewu] ar Imperial soldiers in New Zealand, office W.D.'s. senior X.('.().'s and other ranks, willing to offer their services; well, speaking' plainly an<l in fairness to these honourably discharged Imperial soldiers. I make a suggestion forth benefit of tlie Defence Department and jn recognition of the service (riven hy the above body of men. i.e.. on enlistment they be given a short ]>erio<l as a refresher course." It would not take long to briivr a trained regular back into bis stride in whatever instruction he was conversant with, and a!-o give him the rank he held on discharge. Regular soldiers had to obtain a third-class army educational certificate lx'fore they conlfl qualify for the lancecorporal'* stripe, and then wait months for the pay of .'id per day. Xow coming back to the Defence Department, it would benefit the Department in having a trained instructor (in about a month) and a man with practical wartime experience. I surest that this procedure should lie pi veil careful thought hv those responsible for the safety of our adopted land Xew Zealand, OLD COXTEJI'PTIBLE '