THE WASTE OF TRAINED MEN

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 13411, 1 May 1909, Page 8

THE WASTE OF TRAINED MEN

Sir Joseph Ward, it appears, hopes to be able to submit to his colleagues a defence scheme that will be generally endorsed. As it is therefore evident that the Premier i.s still elaborating his scheme, the time is opportune to suggest that he may consider how best the present waste of trained men can be avoided. A correspondent dealing with this question makes a strong appeal for an adequate "active reserve" force, claiming very rightly that "the "man who is just leaving his corps is "worth more to the country than the "man just joining." There is, of course, provision for just such a reserve as ho desires to see in existence—a reservo composed of, trained volunteers who, through the tie 3of business and other reasons, can no longer devote the necessary time to active membership of a corps, but would be quite willing to put in an occasional drill to keep up their rifle shooting, so as to bo able to tak<- their places in the ranks when needed. But, as he says, this reserve force is little more than a name. Many volunteers, we believe, know nothing of it, and numbers of corps have never troubled to try to attach their old members to them, a fact to bo regretted because there is no doubt such a reserve would be a valuable feature of the defence system in times of emergency. Not only is-it desirable to make this reserve an-actual fact, but its scope should be widened, so as to include all old volunteers,, not merely theso who have resigned within two years. Wo have urged before that some method 1 shoukl be adopted; by the Defence authorities of utilising tho services of these exvolunteers who, if they are not as young as they once were, are as phj--sically capable of putting in a long clay's field work as many of the present members of the volunteer force. We believe firmly that the Dominion must come to a system of compulsory universal training, but we would leave a way open for those who would give voluntary service if they were afforded' the opportunity, and the best way would be a system which would link with each existing volunteer corps a reserve corps open to all its ex-members under middle age, ant", of reasonable physical efficiency.