MILITARY TRAINING

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29246, 2 July 1960, Page 7

MILITARY TRAINING

New Compulsory Scheme Urged

Compulsory military training should be reintroduced in a modified fofm, it was decided at the annual conference of the New Zealand Ex-Prisoners of War As-, sociation in Christchurch yesterday.

“Army publicity statements make New Zealand defence measures sound good,” said the Dominion president (Mr J. A. Yule), “but there is no doubt that defence in this country is very sadly lacking. The only active fighting force is the battalion in Malaya.” Brigadier G. H. Clifton, the association’s patron, said that in all his years in the Army the best value that the Government had for their money was from the basic training period for recruits. He suggests that conscription be reinstituted, but .that the 18-year-old entrants receive training only at the basic stage. “When the basic training was completed the recruits could be shown what the Army had to offer in the way of equipment and a career. The lads would then have the option of joining the Regular Army,” said Brigadier Clifton.

“These trained and disciplined youths would be of use not only in time of war but also in times of national disaster,” he said. The conference moved that the Government be asked to reinstitute compulsory military training in a modified form. ■■ ■ ■ Telegrams were Immediately sent to the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) and the Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly), to inform the Government of the association’s decision.