THE DEFENCE FORGES

Evening Star, Issue 22806, 15 November 1937, Page 13

THE DEFENCE FORGES

HEWS MB NOTES [By Sam Shown®;] NAVAL RIMRVE VISIT OF EMPLOYERS’ REPRESENTATIVES. ' Messrs A. J. Allen (president), J. G. Lauronson (vice-president), and A. S. Cookson (secretary) of the Otago Employers’ Association, and Mr W. H. Naylor visited Otago Division headquarters on Wednesday last whilst training was in progress, at the invitation of the commanding and wardroom officers. The guests were received by the commanding officer (Commander F. Fraser) and shown the various phases of instruction, including the 4m quick-firing gun competition between A and B sub-divisions for the -eraser Oup, which is competed for annually. On conclusion of the training, the visitors were the guests of tee wardroom officers’ mess. LAST WEEK’S SYLLABUS. When the division assembled on Wednesday last the class A, 1&37, ordinary seamen received instruction in steering ship and markings and uses of the land leadline, while the . 1936 class was given 4in breech-loading gun drill ip conjunction "with the Lege teacher. Glass B of year 1937 ordinary seamen was given 4iu Q.F, gun drill and an explanation of the various parts and mechanism. Gunnery ratings and qualified mine-sweeping ratings were given instruction in mine-sweeping gear. Signal ratings carried out signalling, semaphore, and Morse. Senior wireless ratings continued communication exercises with the Defence Headquarters station at Wellington, ana other R.N.V.R. wireless stations. Junior ratings carried out procedure exercises, . and probationary wireless ratings continued practice in reading Morse. A pulling race for the Commercial Travellers’ Shield l will be held in the Upper Harbour at 7.30 to-night between crews selected from the seamen and communication branches of the division. The whalers will he available for instruction in ipulling and sailing on Saturdays. The division will assemble on Wednesday, when work will be carried out in preparation for training afloat in j H.M.S. Wakakura. Ordinary seamen carrying out voluntary training in gunnery and proba- | tionary ordinary telegraphists taking instruction to qualify as ordinary telegraphists were present on Tuesday last and received instruction in their respective subjects. PROMOTIONS. The following ratings were recomI mended for, and promoted to, the rat--1 ing of able seaman on passing the qualii f.ving examination, with seniority from I November 10.: —Ordinary Seaman J. T.

Mosley, S. Ritchie, E. R. Bartlett, 18. Dennison, A. Armitage, L. M'Caibe, S. G. Wadsworth, and S. Smith. SMALL RIFLE SHOOTING. The final shoot for the year was carried out on Monday last. The ladder competition _ was completed, with the general scoring very close and the standard) showing the value of the training carried out. WEEK-END TRAINING MOUNTED RIFLES AND INFANTRY. The local mounted rifles and infantry units will combine at tlje Drill Hall next week-end for the purpose of carrying out week-end training. THE CADETS GOOD SHOOTING AVERAGES. Shooting for the * Weekly Press ’ Challenge Shield has now been completed by the St. Kevin’s College and Christian Brothers High School Cadet unite. The former returned an average score of 84.60 per cent., and the latter’s score was 83.8 per cent. PASSIVE DEFENCE VIEWS, OF LIBERAL LEADER. “ It seems to me utterly paradoxical,” said the Liberal Leader, Sir Archibald Sinclair, M.P., in a recent speech, “ that a number of well-inten-tioned people who profess belief in the League of Nations an<( in collective security, and who desire peace, should oppose the adoption of such measures as the Government has framed for the defence of the country against air bombardment. Because such measures cannot give 100 per cent, security against air bombardment, they object to them being undertaken at all.

“ Cambridge scientists are being roped into the campaign to declare that gas masks and gas-proof chambers are useless. Everybody who fought in the war must remember that much more primitive measures than those now contemplated gave no small degree of protection against gas, which, on many parts of the front, was in a concentration as strong as any to which civilians to-day would be ©xposed. Surely scientists who want to preserve peace and discourage aggression and such outrages as the bombing of civilians arid the use of gas, would be better employed in helping to increase the effectiveness of defensive measures than in trying to prevent their adoption. These means of passive defence are precisely those which should receive the most ardent support from all who hate war and believe in the rule of law and collective security against aggression.’*

REGfIHUHG LEAD HEEDED

APPEAL TO EMPLOYERS. Colonel R. Miles, formerly officer commanding the Northern Military District, recently made an appeal to employers for co-operation in encouraging their staffs to join the Territorial force. Commenting on this the Auckland ‘ Herald ’ says:—“ In spite of the many mew obligations laid on them by the industrial laws, employers have already made plain their helpful attitude, and most are reported to be allowing their employcss to attend camps without deductions of pay or holiday leave. There seems no reason to anticipate any dimming of that spirit of practical co-operation. The City Council has also adopted a scheme to enable members of its staffs to undertake training under reasonable terms, a creditable example that should not be lost on other public bodies. “ What is lacking is a strong and inspiring lead from the Government. First it should issue a general appeal for recruits, an appeal _ both forceful and compelling. Next it should turn to its own numerous cohorts of public servants and encourage them to do their bit. The encouragement should be primarily but should be backed by material inducements by way of making up pay and the grant of extra leave for training. Until the Government has done these things, its officers do not have the standing they should have in appealing to private employers. There need be little doubt as to the response from young New Zealanders, because they realise the need, and only have to be convinced that the Government is in earnest.