WEEK-END CAMPS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 3

WEEK-END CAMPS

Sir,—l am not opposed to military training. When the citizens of New Zealand voted tor compulsory military training, I cannot remember any mention being made of these week-end and fortnightly camps, extending over a period of three years. Thirteen weeks were to have been spent in camp; and I was under the impression that this finished the thing, except for a very occasional refresher course. Some of those who attend these week-end camps have to work on Saturday and they have to arrange for others to take over their positions. Time after time, after all these arrangements have been made, these camps have been postponed at very short notice. It means that some of the trainees had to face a loss of pay. Is the Army Department prepared to make it up?— Yours, etc., F R R October 28, 1954. ["The Military Training- Act, 1949, provides for a period of whole-time service of 14 weeks, a term of parttime - service consisting of 60 days’ training to be carried out in three years, and a term of six years in the reserve,” said the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General of Southern Military District (Major R. E. Johnston) in reply to this letter. “The wholetime training, if fulfilled during the 14 weeks, now reduced by regulation to 10 weeks and a half, is carried out in the main training camps at Burnham, Papakura, Linton and Waiouru. The part-time commftment is fulfilled by three years’ efficient service with a territorial unit, this being broken down into 20 days in .each training year. Without the name and the unit of the person concerned it is impossible to answer a particular instance, but it would be exceptional for a parade to be cancelled at short notice, and then it would be only for a grave reason.’’)