The Dominion THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1926. TRAINING FOR DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 307, 23 September 1926, Page 8

The Dominion THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1926. TRAINING FOR DEFENCE

There is probably very little of official authority for the suggestion that boys of 18 should go into camp for three months tor military training The fact, however, that support has been given to it £ the reported favourable comment of the Officer Commanding the Northern Military District has led the Auckland Council 0 Christian Congregations to regard it seriously enough to pass resolution against it, and also to recommend a return to the voluntary SyStC k might be a very good thing for lads of that, age to spend three months of the year in hard physica training in camp. But it would involve a serious dislocation in the preparation of young men who at that age are qualifying by university study, school and apprenticeship training for their future avocations. And there is no real necessity for it. , A return to the voluntary system raises much more important issues The peace millennium for which the world has been striving is not yet in sight, and until that happens preparations for territorial defence must continue to be a national obligation. The lessons of the Great War, however, suggest that the present system might be modified in certain directions. Our present scheme is pre-war design and in at least one important respect requnes amendment. before examining that aspect of the question, it is necessary to point out that the defence schemes of the various British Dominions form part of a general Imperial plan. In whatever direction these may be amended therefore, the test, of any system must always be its capacity to produce the requisite man-power for a national emer Our C> ixperience of training men under emergency conditions during the Great War revealed the fact that a comparatively brie period of intensive training sufficed to make a capable soldier of the average civilian. There is, in fact, no doubt that the. peacetime training could be- materially curtailed without security. The vital consideration is the efficiency of the military There must be an efficient headquarters staff, with an. instructional force ready at short notice to take in hand the training o large bodies of recruits. There must be at hand the equipment and outfitting organisation necessary to meet large-scale demands. Thes conditions assured, men can be trained quickly and fitted into their places as efficient units of the war machine. If that is the case—as was demonstrated in war time then there would appear to be no necessity for territorial training. The Senior Cadet system, applied to youths at an. impressionable, age, should be capable of instilling a latent responsiveness to discipline and team work which could be readily made efficient by intensive training in an emergency. There must be no question of abandoning the cadet system or the compulsory principle which makes it effCC Our main preoccupation in preparations for national defence should be the development of our air services and the planning ot our naval and port defences. If our. military expenditure, could, be relieved of the cost of territorial training, the gain to. the air services and harbour defences would be. worth while. That is an aspect of the question which deserves serious consideration.