BUSINESS AND WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3035, 23 March 1917, Page 6

BUSINESS AND WAR

TERRITORIAL TRAINING LATEST MILITARY INSTRUC-. 'i'IOINS Tlie following instructions liuve been issued by the Officer Commanding tlie Wellington Military District (Colonel J. (j. Hume) Unit commanders, group commaiidors, and area officers must givu immediate attention to requests by employers in regard to their employees aud supply the employer with full information or the requirements of and the methods of dealing with employees who are «f Territorial age and liable for obligatory attendance at annual camps. The following points should be clearly understood by. all concerned, and siwuifi be made known as early and as widely as possible to employers:— (i) That during the war it is most essential- that all lads of 18 and ID .ys*i3 of age should receive military liauuap in order that upon attaining tho balloting age of 21), thoy may proceed to the Expeditionary Force camps with a suflicient knowledge of -discipline and military training to enablo them .to Uonefit to the highest degree. by -the training in tho latter camps.

(ii) That- it is only fair to those liable for service at the front, that they should receive the maximum amount of training that can be given thein.

(iii) 'That to abandon the Tenitomi camps even for a year would be a 7erj retrograde step and possibly emia-Tixcr its future.

(iv) That'the shortage of labour available for employers and their readiness to assist the •; military authorities are quite understood and fully appreciated, andvthat employers will be . met in every possible • way, by:—

(a) Where necessary, not calling all employees of any one firm o/ cm-

ployer into camp at the same (b) In very special cases ii?niay b'» necessary to exempt men from aitendance at camps this year, such as actual coal miners, sailors, tiock hands when transports are being ■ fitted out, and special casts in whick. the conditions of employment justify exemptions. Notice to Go Into Camp. : Unit commanders should see that notices to attend, camps are sent to Territorials at the earliest possible date, and at the saijje time should ipipiuss upon every Territorial the necessity oi immediately informing his employers of the date he is. to go into camp. In the past this information has not, in some instances, been made known to the employer until just before the commencement of t&e camp, and tho employer 'has not been given. sufficient tima to re-arrange his staff, tfhioh creates a real grievance, and is difficult to adjust at short notice. Corps Not Required to Train. The undermentioned corps an.it units are not required to train in camps year:—(l) .Railway Corps, (2) Post anil Telegraph Corps, (3) Garrison Anillsry Units. A copy of this circular is being supplied to each meraner of Parliament ia this military district, as it is to these gentlemen that many employers miko their appeals, and it is, therefore. '»f importance that unit and group,commanders should ascertain'-whether these gentlemen have,received their circular, and if not to at once supply them with one, and at the same time to specially direct their attention to Paragraph 1 of this circular, as to the necessity for maintaining the training this year, and the way in which employers are to be met in tho matter. Camp, Dates. Ths following alterations hare been made in tho fixtures for the annual camps and casual camps:— 9th (TV.B.C.) Mounted Rifles—Hastings Racecourse, May 17-25. . Mounted Signal Troop—Hastings Racecourse, May 17-25. 7th (W.W.C.) Regiment—April 5-13, 9th (H. 8.) Regiment—Hastings Racecourse, April 10-27. Gi9l»rii<\ Troops. 9th M.R. and 9th (H. 8.) Regiment—This camp will not be held. Casual Camps. 9th Mounted Rifles— I The casuals of this unit will attend u. special casual camp at Hastings Racecourse. May 25-June a I) Battery,_ N.Z.F.A.—March 25-31. ■ Mounted Signal Troop—Casuals of this unit will attend the annual camp of the 9th Mounted . Rifles at Hastings Hacacourse. May is-June 5. g • 9th (H. 8.) Regiment—Tho casuals of thi3 unit will attend a special camp at Hastings Racecourse, May 9-17. No. 4 Coy. Field Engineers, Divisional Signalling Coy., sth, (Wellington) Kci- •"!, , (Taranaki) Regiment—Casi'l rt! mT a Ji e ?L d , annua l camp of the (th (W.W.C.). Regiment, at Wanganui, April 5-13. It has been decided that during ths present abnormal time, when both the railway and" postal staffs are depleted of labour the units concerned will be responsible for the enrolment, equipment and framing of the men, under the suwrvislon of HeaaquarUra.