FARMER & SOLDIERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1190, 27 July 1911, Page 6

FARMER & SOLDIERS.

GENERAL GODLEY AND THE CONFERENCE.

A DIFFICULT QUESTION. ARRANGEMENTS I'OR TRAINING. The military training scheme as it will affect, the farming community was placed before the Farmers' Virion Conference yesterday fcv Major-General A. J. Godlev, an.

In welcoming General Godley, the president (Mr. .1. G. Wilson) remarked that the question was a very large one, and fraught with great difficulties. He was, however, confident that the desire was to make the training as easy for the farming community as possible. General Godley would be" open to hear suggestion:*, and would reply to any questions. He (Mr. Wilson) wished to ask him when he proposed to tako the training in the country districts. Farmers—Mostly Mounted. General Godley, replying to this question, said that they had practically settled tho training in (ho farming districts of the mounted "u'niis, and he anticipated that, in the large majority of cases, the employers and young farmers would go into, the mounted branches. Of cour.se, thero would be exceptions, but, as a rule, ho thought that they would be mounted. They bad already practically arranged that, throughout New Zealand, the training of tho mounted regiments should be as iato as possible in the training year— probably about the end of May or as late as Juno if possible. Personally, he thought that they should endeavour to get it over before the end of May if possible, and, generally speaking, he was told that the last two weeks in May would suit farmers. Another matter was the driils which had to bo done throughout the year. Each man had to do 30 days' drill. He recognised that it was a wasto. of time bringing farming boys in on a long journey to do an isolated hour's drill on a particular day, and a suggestion had been made by many farmers that, to a certain extent, tho drills should be lumped together, and that the men should go into camp for, say, a fortnight instead of a week—the preliminary week to be the lumping together of the isolated drills and daylight parades. Training should bo progressive throughout the year, and it was a great sacrifice (from a military point of view), as they particularly required tho drills, but thero had to bo givo and take, and he thought that a schema could be arranged which would satisfy both sides. A certain number would not join tho mounted corps, and they were faced with a great difficulty in regard to these—in fact, they were really at their wit's end to know how to train them. But they were going to bo trained somehow. Regulations had been made providing for the establishment of small subcentres—perhaps at a farm—where they might get the use. of a barn or a schoolhouse, and collect as few as a dozen men to do their drill under a sergeant-major, even if it had to bo done' between milking hours. It would have a very bad effect if aay men were let off merely because they happened to bo engaged in the dairy industry, no did not want it said 'that any class was excepted. (Applause.)

Delegates Give Their Views, Mr. Hurrell (North Canterbury) remarked that May was an impossible month as far as North Canterbury was concerned, as it would upset their sowing arrangements entirely. October would bo tho most suitable.

Major Lusk (Te Kuiti) did not think that a set scheme which would suit each island could be arrived at. The last week in May would suit the North Island, but they had'just heard that it would not suit the South. He agreed that there should bo no exemptions.

Mr; Vavasour stated that May was the busiest part of the' year in Marlborough. Ho suggested that the matter should be left in the hands of the different executives to settle the best time for.tho different parts of the countrv, and to inform General Godley accordingly. Mr. Maxwell (Upunakvj asleep if tho extra week would cover tho thirty drills, and at what distance the camps would be. If the camps were numerous and enabled ordinary duties to be carried on, he thought that other attendant difficulties would bo minimised. If the distance of tho camps were a, long way off, it would be best to lump the drills. The dates should-bo left to the executives.

Mr. Nevens (Tcnui) asked how' tho Government would get the horses. Would owners be recempensed for the use of these ?

Mr. Sheat (Dunsandel) asked if General Godley would do his best to keep up the moral tone of the camps so as to safeguard the boys, Sometimes a good deal of latitudo was allowed in camps. If the country did not support the scheme, God help, us if we were attacked.

Mr. Makgill pointed out that Juno had proved the very best month in the Auckland district. Ho wished, however, to know how the senior cadet lads wero going to bo trained in scattered districts.

Mr. Jones (Kakaramea) remarked that tho conference was representative of the whole of New Zealand, and they should fix the matter up at once. June would suit Taranaki. He would like to know if the men could be taken ia batches— half at a time. If this difficulty could be got over, lie did not think that there would be any other trouble.

GENERAL GODUEY'S REPLY. TRAINING MONTH. AND OTHER MATTERS. In his reply, General Godley explained what was meant by a system of progressive training. It would start with the training of recruits in- June, aud end in camps in the- autumn." He had been given to understand that May would be the best month for training, but tho military authorities did not desire to fix any hard and fast time. The only objection which he. had to an October camp was that they would bo taking recruits out before they had had a chance of going through their progressive course. Tho infantry question was a difficult one, and- they must settle a. time that would give tho greatest good to the greatest number. The infantry camps would unquestionably be in the summer, and they would want farmers in the.infantry to' go into camn in summer. At the same time, ho could not help thinking that most of the farmers would be mounted.

Will Help the Farmers. They would help tho farmers, but to arrange (as. someone had suggested) that a few should come at a time, would bo a great drawback, and would strike at tho root, of military efficiency. Half at one time and.half at another would stultify (he whole thing from his point of view, and, as far as possible, they must have all the men together.' To train the men in the use of the rifle and discipline alone would be of no more use.than a headache. (Laughter.) They must have progressive training and organisation with units accustomed to work together. AVithout thorough organisation an army was a. sham. However, he believed that everything could be arranged by districts and to suit the districts. They wanted as many drills as possible, but the lumped drills were suggested to help matters, although the military authorilios were giving a lot away, and he could not say that the fortnight's camp would cover all drills, although it might. They would not ask anyone to come to drill over more than an hour's journey. Personally, lie had not the slightest doubt that, with everybody's help and goodwill, everything could be got over in the country, which was the most difficult portion of tho scheme. The cities were simple work. Who Will Provide Horses? He was afraid that (here was not the slightest chance ol the Government acquiring horses, except a few to draw the guns which wore being brought from England. As to the mounted corps, it would bo put to (he mon (.hat. if (hey could provide a horse, they could form a mounted corps. Otherwise, (hey would have to be posted to foot corps, and would have to walk. He hoped farmers would be able to lend their horses to employees. It would improve the horses, and return them trained chargers. J.aughter.)

Mr. Nevins thought that they should be compelled to lend horses. General Godloy. "That is a splendid idea." (Laughter.) Moral Tone of Camps. General Godley said he felt strongly about the moral and spiritual welfare of nipn in the ramp-, and. lie reuretted that there eJioulcl be even a suspicion as' to

best men that, would prevail. (Hear, hear.) It would only 1)0 a very short time before, a man who used bad language ur got drunk was brought to his senses. (Applause.) Rules would be strict (and strictly enforced) in regard to bringing liquor into camp, and he was certain that every officer would set a proper example. Arrangements wore also being made for the accommodation in camp of chaplains and representatives of every religious denomination. Jji every way the spiritual and moral welfare of the camps would be attended (o. Nn one nerd have any fear on this score. When men were piit on their honour the result was surprising. They could not contemplate mountii\g the senior cadets. They would be trained as infantry. These cadets did not go into camp, but did their training within an hour's journey of their homes. He could also say that if was not the intention to tako away all the employees from anybody at the same time, but they did want every ono possible.

That Talk of "Militarism." "In conclusion," said General Godley, "I beg you that, when you hear this talk of conscription and militarism, you will do all you can to combat it. We only want to help you to establish a citizen army." Ho did not want to tight, he could assure them, but the best way to ensure peace was to be prepared. (Hear, hear.) Apart from the military point, the training of the men would be of immense value to" (ho country. It was all nonsense to talk of conscription and militarism. A conscript soldier was one who was taken away from his home, and put into barracks. Our scheme was simply a system of.general training, so that the men of the country would be in a position to defend their homes should tho occasion aviso. (Applause.)

The chairman, in thanking General Godley, thought ho could assure him of the assistance of the farmers in carrying out the stupendous work before him. (Hear, hear.) It was decided, on tho motion of Mr. Vavasour: "That this conference requests the different provincial executives of the JJomiriion to decide as to what month is most convenient when training should take place in the different parts of the country, and to forward the result of their deliberations to tho officers commanding military districts."