CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 28, 2 August 1933, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

VOLUNTEER SYSTEM

NOT A CREDIT

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The report of an interview by tlio 1 Minister of Defence appearing in your issue of Jijjy 31 is most reassuring to those not in a position to know. Having been interested in military training for a number of years, my observations are not uneonsidered when I say that the present syatem is not a credit to this country. The Minister statos that recruiting has been extremely satisfactory. Here is a typical case which, to my mind, is a direct negative, of the above: The unit in which 1 am particularly interested has a peace establishment laid down in the vicinity of 500 all ranks. This is very much lower than the establishment of compulsory days. Th 6 recruited strength, including a brass band, also a drum and pipe band, is approximately, 200.; 1 invite tho Hon. J. Cf. Cobbe to visit any evening or halfday parade, when he will not see even 60 per cent, of this, meagre enlistment present. .Even the camp», where men are paid to attend, are little better; The above' is sot an obscure case. It applies to practically every unit 'in this district, and I know that-conditions in a corresponding unit to the above-men-tioned are in an even worse condition in a northern city. The Minister states that a small increase in recruits ia reported, but he omits to inform, us that the number of names etrti'ck off for non-attendance exceeds new enrolments. Let us hope that the reorganisation of the military forces which is now in hand will be of gome conwtructive nature. The present sparselyattended paradca make it impossible for interesting work to be carried out, and continuity of instruction is absent owing to spasmodic attendances' by trainees. What is requ|red in the new scheme is greater, numbers, \yiiether this will bo attained by compulsory means, payment for parades, or other methods remains with the Department. Until this has been achieved, however,; a training programme cannot be formulated which is sufficiently attractive to ensure that Territorials will be present on all parades.—l am, etc., ; TERKITOKIAL.