AT THE OFFICERS' MESS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 986, 29 November 1910, Page 5

AT THE OFFICERS' MESS

HIS EXCELLENCY ON "DEFENCE." SCIENTIFIC MILITARY ORGANISATION. Replying to the tosst of his health at the Garrison Officers' mess dinner at the Hotel Windsor last evening, his Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington) remarked that ho was fully awaro of the value of tho services which had been rendered to tho forces by the Garrison Officers' Clubs of New Zealand, which had done their share in keeping tho lamp of. military zeal burning and bright, in their lectures and discussions upon military subjects. These things made for efliciency and utility, and if such steady and dovoted efforts—to which the country was indebted in no small way—wero proved to havo been of such value under a voluntary system, very much more so' would this influence be felt under a universal Territorial system. • Sotting tho Pace, Ho congratulated New. Zealand and the Empire upon the change that had been effected in tho defence system of tho Dominion, which country had been amongst tho first of tho democratic'countries in tho world to set tho pace in national and Imperial reform in deciding to impose the obligation of military training upon itself, and that in no autocratic way but by tho face and unfottered'decision of its Parliament. Tho new movement was not aggeossivo; it was a protective movement, having for its object tho security and sai'ety of its people, upon a comprehensive and cfTccVual basis, and in its operation would tend to strengthen and stimulate tho national sentiment. Tho futuro of tho Empire's safely would depend upon the extent to which the Imperial States were disposed to co-derate with the Mother -Country in ■ the protection of her prestige, and though it could not be said that New Zealand, with its organisation and training, could hope to evolve a ,svstcm which would produce such high standards of efficiency as was possible in tho Regular Army., yet the stimulus supplied by tho movement should induce a susceptibility to these hi"her ideals, and which would make for such rapid and effective progress. This new development should bo slow in ripenin", that its influence would be lastin" and effectual. There would bo no danger if they abstained from unduly precipitating ma'tters. Military Organisation: A First Principle. After touching upon tho cadet movement, his Excellencv went on to say that for the first time in their history, or in tho Empire's history, they had evolved a really scientific system of military organisation, so planned that the transition from the peace establishment to the war establishment would be a simple matter. This, he ventured to say, was one of the first principles in modern military training for war. The lessons of the South African war showed that the weakness of the Home and colonial troops was traceable to lack of proper military organisation. . In a few days, concluded his Excellency, Major-Generai Godley would arrive in New Zealand. That officer's record showed him to be a highly competent and efficient officer, whom they would find' it most agreeable to work with. He felt sure that General Godley would find, on closer acquaintance with military affairs in New Zealand, that all would be anxious to eo-opcrate with him in the responsiblo task which lay before'him.