THE NEW DEFENCE SYSTEM.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13683, 17 March 1910, Page 7

THE NEW DEFENCE SYSTEM.

AN INTERESTING SUMMARY

(PBESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, March 16.

Defence matters in tho Dominion are just now in a transition stage, fl'he volunteers ceased to be, and were instantaneously resurrected by Act of Parliament as territorials, but there is a feeling of uncertainty about future operations. The military authorities are unable to completely enlighten the ! public just new in regard to future developments, but it is clear from what has been done so far that the territorials, otherwise tho volunteers, have an immensely impruwd 6tatius. Cavitation has been sul»_ taut tally iucreasid Iso as to enable old li_bii;ties to be cleared off and full equipment provided, and a ecale of pay for camp attendances has been provided which will bring in more revenue to the battalion cotters. As toon as the whole scheme becomes " operative, there need be no more trouble about recruiting, for in the absence of volunteers the commander will simply requisition hLs district superior for the men required to lill the deficiency, and will get them from the. general training section. Old volunteers who are still attached to their company can remain under the new and improved conditions, and need not retire until the usual retiring ago of fifty is reached. Each regiment of the territorials forces will havo attached to it a permanent instructor. It is to the non-volunteer that the new Defence Act will come as a Call for self-sacrifice. Efficient volunteers are to be exempt from the compulsory training, but tho young man who has not gone in for volunteering will now bo obliged to do v certain minimum amount of military training There are 21,550 volunteers or territorials in the Dominion, but military experts are of opinion that 30,000 highly-trained men should bo available if New Zealand is to defend itself effectively, and the whole of this big force- can be obtained by training the physically fit males between tho ages of 17 and 21. To equip 'the increased number more arms will have to be imported, while tho arrangement >i training camps and provision for instruction is a big preliminary task before the eligible men can be called upon to put in theiftraining. A proclamation will shortly be issued calling upon all eligible persons to register their names with the prescribed officer according to the Act. The enrolment upon tho register of a school attended by tho individual is a sufficient registration, but failure to enrol under other circumstances renders the defaulter liable to a fine. As a man who serves in tho territorials will not bo required to put in time at tho training camp, it is anticipated that a great impetus will be given to tho volunteer side of the defence movement. Ono of tlie chief difficulties in carrying out the general scheme is the liability to cause dislocation, or at tny rato serious inconvenience, in some branches of industry, but to avoid this the general training period will be spread over five or si_ months of the year, and batches of several hundreds will be taken periodically from the different districts. The preparation of the list of eligible males will go on •„- most immediately, and it is anticipated that the first batch of men will go into camp about the beginning of next year.