THE DEFENCE SYSTEM

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 116, 19 May 1931, Page 10

THE DEFENCE SYSTEM

REORGANISATION ON VOLUNTARY BASIS

A SMALL PERMANENT FORCE

The reorganisation of the defence forces of the Dominion on

a voluntary basis was announced by the Minister, of Defence (the N Hon. J. G. Cobbe) in a statement made to a "Post" reporter to-day. The Minister explained that it was hoped that there would be as little disturbance of the existing organisation as possible. The principles on which the new system had been drawn up were as follows: (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 admin

istration,

"As is well known," said Mr.-Cobbe, '' the Government decided during 1930 to suspend the operation of the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act, 1909. 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 providedifor the establishment of > a Territorial . Force on a compulsoryAbasis, and this system has remained in force until last year.

"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 change-over 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 tho new system ,of military training has fallen but little short of expectations.

LITTLE ALTERATION.

"The Defence. Act for the establishment of a force on. a.. Territorial r 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. In other respects also very little alteration has been made in the present system, the object being to provide an efficient defence f6rce with" as little disturbance: of the ■ existing organisation as possible.- ■ •■• ', 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 borne defence or ' for service overseas. , (b) The maintenance of the divinional organisation which has existed ever since the Great War. (c) The retention of the present .Territorial units with .their identity and traditions. . v (d) The maintenance of a small but highly trained permanent force for the instruction of the Territorial Force and Cadets and for peace

administration.

"As regards the Territorial Force, it^has been realised all along that the Cadre 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.' . .■'.-., :■.■ ".■ .;

EACH CENTRE'S QUOTA.

"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—r and each of these Commands will,, as heretofore, be required to1" provide: One brigade of Mounted ;R,ifles; 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. "It is intended, in addition, that ovory encouragement in the way of instruction and equipment shall be given to secondary school cadet 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 sorvico up to the age of 30 years. "One of the main difficulties under tho compulsory system as limited by the money available was that the great bulk of tho 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 timo provide units with a strong backing of seasoned men. TRAINING PERIOD. "For the present, training throughout the year will be limited to six evening parades, two half-day parades, 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. It is intended to hold courses of instruction from time to time at the training depot, Trentham Camp, and in commands. ''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 ex-" penses in travelling, etc. It is realised by the Government that the new system can succeed only b,y tho 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 who have so patiently carried on during the recent period of reduction in military establishments. -The spirit shown by these officers and n.c.o.'s lias 'under., the. circumstances been most praiseworthy, and the Mm-; ister of Defence desires to take this opportunity of thanking them for the admirable way in which they have carried on and of expressing the hope that their efforts will find a profitable and useful field in the new. scheme, and that they will, by their enthusiasm and willing assistance, make it a success. FURTHER ECONOMIES. 'With the object bf effecting: further economies, the Government has; decided upon the following changes -..with respect to the Permanent Force: — "Until recently there have been' at. G.H.Q. an adjutant-general and a' quartermaster-general. These two appointments will in future be combined in one officer to be known as the adjutant and quartermaster-general.' "The transfer of the headquarters of the Central Military Command from PalmeTston 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. : '' The Commanding Officers of each of the three Commands .have up till recently held the rank of brigadier. In future the appointments will be held by officers of tho 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. K. Duigan, promoted to Colonel and to Command Northern Command. Lieut.-Colonel I. T. Standish to be Adjutant and Quartermaster-General at G.H.Q., Wellington. • Major S. C. P. Nicholls promoted to Lieut.-Colonel and to command Southern Command, Christchurch.