DBFENCE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 687, 11 December 1909, Page 6

DBFENCE BILL.

: ; - i > AMENDMENTS;JY;;CpMiaTTEB.; ■•'•'.' 1 ;•:.'.. 6NLYS« D &»i(^TEENS:'S . .The Internal .Defence Bill was' reported to the House of Representatives yesterday after-' noon, by the, Special 'Committee to which it was referred! ■■'.-. ..'.'-■;'.'•;':. change made in the Bill.-.by the:committee is.in.re'gar.d to the.canteens at encampments.' .The Bill as : drafted provided that no .intoxicating liquor '.should be sold.or •supplied, from'a' 'canteen to'aiiy/pbrson."under the.bm;oi 21 years': The committee Hs struck put.;all the. words. after..\ "person.'". :■ .If! this ■amendment: is .passed ."by, Parliament it will: :niean that in future all'canteens will be "dry,", and it-will not be allowable to sell intoxicating .liquor to any personiin:'caiup." ; :■ ';, .' |V The clause dealing with, the exemption' of •persons from' military service on the ground of religious scruples has .'been amended by making it read that "non-combatant" instead of "civil" duties shall be performed by such per-' 'sons: <\- ;v i .i: ". .* •, •...■' ■.:,..■. ' ; ' .■;.. .

. A memorandum, from Colonel \Bobin, Chief I of the General Staff, is attached, to.'the Bill as reported, .it,having, been supplied''at the request of the 'committee v-Colonel'-Robin -states that the provision for :a small.Council bf'Defenoe, with power' to call in expert advisers, 19 a.distinct.advantage. l ' The reorganisation of. the present headquarters will be' ■necessitated by.-the, Bill., but-.-this;reorganisation will hot mterfemwith appointment' of 'Imperial officers now-serving in-.-New,'Zealand; force would become ?more of' an 'instructional force than a.regiment of garrison artillery, and schools.of musketry,'.gMinery, and communication .would.be set up at' each.centre...'. '," ■■ . "Generally," says Colonel Eobin, '1 consider the Bill a sound one, as it-provides for the training of youth through progressive stages up to 21, and sets,up a force in the Territorials ready, to take the field at short/notice, with provision- for augmenting the same or filling, up wastage: from the reserve. The provision for a reserve of officers will .enable the' fullvalue' of officers'- training corps to be-felt in the course, of-a-very few years." ■■'■•;. .-.- -'. ,■■.';., ' The regulations' for training in the-Terri-torial Force, suggested by Colonel Robin provide 21, days for the garrison artillery, of which six days shall be in. camp; field artillery and engineers. shall, also serve - 21. days, .of. which ten days shall be in camp. - Mounted -rifles and infantry, .will be required to serve-18. days, the first-mentioned serving ten days, and the lastmentioned six : days in camp. : . • ' ■;<,- ! -■.■■-■'"'■.' ! Lieutenant-Colonel Chay tor ..also': supplied a memorandum setting forth : various suggested | verbal amendments in .tho. Billi',--*-, ' •