VOLUNTEER FORCES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 199, 20 May 1931, Page 10

VOLUNTEER FORCES

Defence Change-Over

TRAINING METHODS Small Permanent Force EFFICIENT NUCLEUS Following upon the drastic retrenchments in the Defence Department, and the abolition of compulsory training, the Minister of Defence, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, announced yesterday that the Government had decided to reorganise the New Zealand Military Forces upon a voluntary basis, so bringing the Dominion into line with Great Britain’s system of territorial training, i A small permanent staff is to be retained for instructional purposes, but apart from one or two changes, the old system of regimental establishments will remain, except that trainees will be under no compulsion.

The system of payment for time spent in annual camps will still obtain. It was stated by the Minister that the idea underlying training would be, as in the past, the ability to raise an adequate force in time of need for cither home defence or service overseas. “As is well-known, the Government decided during 1930 to suspend the operation of the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act, 1909,” the Minister said. “Consideration has recently been given by the Minister of Defence to a scheme of reorganisation of the military forces, with the result that the Government has now approved of the introduction of a scheme of training based on the principle of voluntary enlistments. ' ’ “It will be remembered that it was under the provisions of the Defence Act, 1909, that the territorial system was 'established, but the Act was not put into operation until after the visit of Lord Kitchener to New Zealand in 1910. The Act provided for the establishment of a territorial force on a compulsory basis, and this system lias remained in force until last year.

System Working Elsewhere.

“The present change-over of the territorial system to a voluntary basis brings our military training system into line with that now in operation in Great Britain and other parts of the Empire. In Australia during 1930 a similar changeover of the military training system' to a voluntary basis was made, and, in spite of the unsettled conditions existing there, the latest reports show that the interest taken in the new system of military training has fallen but little short of expectations. “The Defence Act provided for the establishment of a force on a territorial basis, and this principle is not being departed from in the new scheme. Regimental districts will continue to furnish their quota of personnel to .the various units as heretofore, the only difference being that from henceforth the enlistments will be on a voluntary basis. The principles on which the new scheme has been drawn up provide the following essential features: —

(a’) The rapid mobilisation of an adequate force for home defence or for service overseas.

(b) The maintenance of the divisional organisation which has existed ever since the Great War.

(c) The retention of the present Territorial units, with their identity and traditions.

(d) The maintenance of a small but highly-trained permanent force for the instruction of the Territorial force and cadets, and for peace administration.

Proper Organisation,

“As regards the Territorial force, it has been realised all along that the cadet system, which provides for the training of only officers and n.c.o.’s, and which has been in operation since military training was suspended, was only a temporary measure. Since units, when reduced to such small strengths, cannot train efficiently or maintain interest in their work. To obviate this, units have now been given a relatively large peace establishment, which will permit of proper organisation and training. 1 “New Zealand is at present divided into three commands —the northern, with headquarters at Auckland, the central, with headquarters shortly to be at Wellington, and the southern, with headquarters at Christchurch. Each of these commands will, as heretofore, be required to provide: One brigade of mounted rifles, one brigade of infantry, one field artillery brigade, and other artillery units, an engineer field company, a signal depot, an Army Service Corps company, and a field ambulance.

Secondary School Cadets.

“It is intended, in addition, that every encouragement in the way of instruction and equipment shall be given to secondary school cadets corps. Enlistments in the Territorial force will be accepted from men between the ages of 18 and 25. for a period of three years, and provision is made for extension of service up to the ago of 30 years. One of the main difficulties under the compulsary system as limited by the money available, was that the great bulk of the men were under 20 years of age, and consequently too young for active service. The new conditions of enlistment will overcome this difficulty, and will in time provide units with a strong backing of seasoned men. “For the present, training throughout the year will be limited to: Six evening parades, ttvo half-day parades, and six days' continuous training in camp, but it is hoped that the interest taken in the training will enable commanding officers to arrange additional training wherever possible, in order that the various units may attain to a high degree of efficiency. “As regards pay and allowances, these will be the same as those at present laid down by regulations for the Territorial force. These regulations provide for pay at specified rates while in camp, and for a reimbursement of expenses in travelling, etc. It is realised by the Government that the new system can succeed only by the goodwill and co-operation of all concerned. For this there is a sound basis in these officers and n.c.o.’s of the Territorial force, to whom the Minister expresses his thanks, and hopes for their continued usefulness.

“With the object of effecting further economies, the Government has decided upon the following changes with respect to the Permanent Force:— “Until recently there have been at General Headquarters an adjutant-gene-ral. and n qunrtermnster-genernl. These two appointments will in future be combined in one officer, to bo known as the adjutant and quartermaster-general. The transfer of the headquarters of the Central Military Command from Palmerston North to Wellington enables the duties of officer commanding this command to be taken over by the present Director of Artillery. who will now carry out the duties appertaining to both positions. Permanent Staff Changes.

“The commanding officers of each of the three commands have, up till recently, held the rank of brigadier. Tn future the appointments will be held by officers of the rank of colonel. “To fill the vacancies the following changes have been made: Colonel F. Symon to command Central Command, retaining his present duties as Director of Artillery; Lieut.-Colonel J. E. Duiran. promoted to colonel and to command Northern Command; Lieut-Coloncl J. R. T. Standish to be adjutAnt and qunrtcrmns-ter-general at general headquarters. 'Wellington : Major S. C. P. Nicholls, promoted to lieut.-colonel and to command Southern Command, Christchurch.”