DEFENCE COMMISSION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16209, 11 May 1918, Page 3

DEFENCE COMMISSION.

GKNKHAL llOlilN'S KYIDENCK

(rnEss association tklegram.)

WKM.IXGTOX, Mnv 10

Giving, evidence before tho Defence Expenditure Commission to-dajj Ma jo.- , General Sir Alfred llobin, Commanda.it of the New Zealand Forces, said thero ' was no necessity for allowing a longei period between the date of the ballot ( and the actual calling into camp or men who hail had a considerable Territorial training. The Sanioan Main Uodv and the earlier icintorceinents practically depleted tho .1 erritonal Force of all the eligible men '20 years of age and over. It was due to this that the Sanioan Force, tho .Main Uodv, and the Ist Hcint'orcemeius were able to go away without any preliminary training. The Territorial scheme was introduced in 1911, w'ton it required seven years to become fully established or automatic in its action. Tho present war thus l'cll upon the scheme three and a-half years before it was fully developed, but even so it had proved its value. A considerable proportion of the expenditure in the Territorial scheme had been in the provision of drill halls, officers, field guns rifles, equipment, etc. When Avar 'broke out these supplies were drawn on, and resulted in the Expeditionary Force being ablo to leave completely onuipped. Territorial training was not ignored • when .tho lads went into the Expeditionary camps. An analysis would show that they were those who principally gained officer and n.c.o. ranks. He never contended, however, that the Territorial training was sufficient to fit men for actual service in the field. Tho system was based on the _ time that could-be spared from civilian life; not on what was considered sufficient by the military advisers based on .war conditions. It was better to have half a loaf than none. Unless, therefore, they equipped and trained-their men to be! disciplined en route to the front, and enabled theni to meet and hoid their own with the enemy and to be in a state to at bnee go on with the special higher training in England, t.hey would send them to possible death and defeat for want of . training. To suggest reducing the period of training in camp here merely in order to reduco the expenditure at the expense of efficiency was a grave and • serious responsibility for the Government or its military advisers to undertake. Training and discipline were essential. I Hegular authentic reports from abroad supported the system adopted by New Zealand, It would be disastrous to entirely suspend the Territorial Force during the war or to altogether cease training Cadets and youths until they reached the ago of liability under the Military Service Act. Twelve months ago ho* commenced draft proposals for the future training of tho Dominion Forces after the war, and these were still under construction for consideration by the Government as soon as possible after peace was declared. The terms of peace and the experience gained in the war must, however, bo the governing factor in arriving at a decision. The actual details would be prepared in conference with returned officers of the higher staff, and Territorial officers in whom tho public would havo confidence. He was afraid the suggestions made to the Commission in this respect were the result of conversations between himself and various officers at a conference held in October last. He pointed out that the forces must of necessity be alike in training and equipment if they were to co-operate in tno field. Standardisation was even more necessary in the military machine than in big business concerns. He would be unable to release those Imperial officers at present employed in New Zealand, because, so far, equivalent experienced officers had not yet returned to enable this to be done.