DEFENCE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20250, 30 May 1931, Page 14

DEFENCE.

details op new scheme. VOLUNTARY RECRUITMENT. ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM:.) WELLINGTON, May 2D. A special general order -was issued by Major-General Sinclair-Burgess, General Officer Commanding tho New Zealand Military Forces, to-day, giving details of tho new defence scheme under which compulsory military training will be abandoned for voluntary enlistment. The total strength of the new force will be slightly under 10,000. Following is a summary of the new scheme of military training which will be brought into force as from June Ist, 1931: — (1) The iSTew Zealand Territorial Force will bo reeruited on a voluntary basis. Apart from this the general organisation will, remain aa at present. (2) No change will take place in the cadet units at secondary schools. (3) Tho organisation of the Territorial Force will be based on the following principles:—(a) The retention of the present divisional organisation; (b) the maintenance of the majority of the Territorial units, but on a reduced peace establishment; (c)the retention of a highly trained cadre of regular soldiers for mobilisation, peace training, and administrative requirements. (4) The system provides for: (a) A central training depot at the Trentliam Camp; (b) the establishment of some 600 officers and 9300 other ranlcs in the Territorial Force; (c) the training of some 300 officers and 16,000 secondary school cadets. The strength of the new force is to be 9982, made up as follows: Officers .. .. 614 Warrant officers .. " 136 Sergeants and Corporals 1468 Other ranltß .. 7764 The total strength of each unit in feach district will be:Mounted rifles .. • • 194 Artillery field batteries . • 128 Light batteries .. •• 131 Medium batteries (horsed) _ .. 128 Modium batteries (mechanised) 114 Coast batteries .. • • 150 Field companies engineers .. 233 Infantry battalions (higher establishments) in Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago . • • • 535 Infantry battalions (lower establishments) .. 230 Composite companies A.S.C. .. HO Field ambulances .. • • 100 Otago University Medical Company 292 (d) Each command will contain the following:—One rifle brigade, one field brigade, and other artillery as allotted, one field. company New Zealand engineers, one depot New Zealand signals, one infantry brigade, one composite company, N.Z.A.S.C., one field ambulance. The age of enlistment will be from 18 to 25 years, while tho minimum amount of training which must be carried out by officers or other ranks will be six evening parades, two half-day parades, six days? / continuous training in camp, and tho prescribed small arms course. The present system of training in sect ondary; schools will be retained,