MILITARY TRAINING.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 12

MILITARY TRAINING.

TO 7KZ 2DITC2 07 "TEE PEESS." Sir.—A reference to my letter of Saturdav last is made to-day (Tuesday.) by -Major Row, D.5.0... who explains that while three weeks —the time I stated j is sufficient for ordinary training puri poies. it is not enough for'teaching disi ripliuo. .My letter was partly and j politely intended to nnd out how the i ilomi* force?. whether disciplined or I otherwise, could possibly, with any ad- • vantage to the community, be cxpcctL d stand up to guniii e irora v-ar-Lhips and bombs from aircraft. Inc ! no doubt is a militaiy secret, j Ihe Major points out that it is easy ! enough to procure a Guard of Honour o; l"i:> men, and as I have been in several. I can vouch for the fact that these parades are usualiv conducted in oi'rative safety. If the only "value of the Home forces is to be found in ceremonial purposes —cueh as in the ran or a procession embracing the I'ire Brigade and the Ancient Order of Forestei-. then it is a question as to whether the country is getting its money s worth. What is not open to question is that so long as New Zealand retains a coast-line —remains what Nature made her —vulnerable from the s?a. Jhe Major refers to the case ot the voting man instructed to consult a mili- ! cat v 'doctor, and then expected to pay the fee.

Well, alter the unexpected receipt of this doctor's claim—the answer to a complaint from the Area Officer, Tiniaru. dated November 4th last is:—

"When trainees claim exemption on medical grounds, a certificate to that effect must be furnished at their own cxpens?." Next, upon a similar complaint. the reply from the Minister under date November loth la.se, states in of [eel that a cadet- applying for exemption on account of medical unfitness. must pay for the job at hib own expense.

Any intelligent student or Euclid, that dear friend of our youth, must come to the conclusion that both these replies coincide and agree. Now, Major How clearly states that when a boy becomes 18 years of age "he is called up and warned to attend a medical examination at the expense of the State." This is obviously contrary to the blunt statements of the Minisfer and ot the Area Officer —who both mi<zlit be presumed to be in possession of this !;it of information, and yet failed to fork it out. Such secretiveness is more worthy of the Pension Department-. As 1 receive no less than ninepence a day from the Imperial authorities, for life, on account of a permanent injury, I know something of them. Well, what is quite certain is that if ths parade the lad attended (lie is over 18) was meant to be a medical examination—then there is no doubt it was carried out as well as could be expected in the absence of anv doctor.

I have no desire to see this genileman lose bis fee, but with the facts before him, "lie cannot fail to agree that the claim is nob now against the lad—but against the State. —Yours, etc., H.G.