THE TERRITORIALS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 22 June 1912, Page 4

THE TERRITORIALS.

It may be of interest to those in . lemtorial circles to know something of the system of organisation of the. Queen Alexandra West Coast Mounted ■Rifles Jtegiment. The regiment i« divided into four squadrons, with a machine gun section and headquarters The squadrons are again subdivided into four troops, and the troooe are as far as possible, arranged s*o that the greatest number of drill centresare around the headquarters. Each troop is under the charge of an officer, who has the assistance of non-com-missioned officers, and the non-com-missioned officers in turn instruct th« men. The non-commissioned officers are responsible to the troop officer, the troop officer to the squadron ofl ficer, and the squadron officer to the commanding, etc., who also inspects the feed. Throughout this regiment the foregoing system has been maintained. The caran at Waverley showed the necessity for the study of th« culinary department, and satisfactory progress was made in teaching cooking (and by the purchase of up-to-date appliances) at the camp. In comparison with complaints'made at other camps, matters in this connection werein a gratifying state, and next roar this department should be on a sound and well organised basis. The training throughout this group for another period is about to commence. There is no doubt that the benefits derived from the past year's, work seem small, said an officer' to a reporter; but it has furnished a strong link in the chain, and it behoves all officers, non-commissioned officers, and men to do their utmost in carrying out the syllabus laid down, which has been prepared after a great amount, of study, to enable them to fit thenvselves for the great future before this country. The benefits of the training alone are even now most noticeable, and there is every reason to believe* | that not only employers of labor, but the country generally, will reap benefit from the expenditure which has been incurred in laying the foundation of the defence scheme.