OUR CITIZEN ARMY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 298, 28 September 1910, Page 3

OUR CITIZEN ARMY.

Government's Proposals. The House of Representatives discussed the Defence Amendment Act on Thursday last. Sir Joseph Ward, in moving the second reading, said that since the Act of last year came into force, FieldMarshal Lord Kitchener had visited the country, and as a result of his recommendations it was proposed to amend the existing law in the direction indicated in the Bill. One of the alterations would be in the method of appointing officers, and instead of the present system of election by ballot all officers in future would be selected. This was necessary to ensure that the country would at all times secure the very best material available. In this connection it was proposed to appoint Magistrates, and if necessary, Justices of tne Peace, to assist area officers. Under the Bill provision was made for dealing with those medically unfit. Five years' service in the reserves was provided for, and the Bill also gave effect to Lord Kitchener's recommendation that the age limit for compulsory training should be raised from 21 to 25 years.

Mr Massey : Is that all round? Sir Joseph Ward: I will explain directly. Continuing, the Premier said the forces were to be maintained by an annual quota selected and maintained by the general reserve. When the Act came into force the quota would be selected between the years of 18 to 24, after that the required annual quota to maintain the forces would be selected from 18 and 19 year men. Under last year's Act the Territorial Force was to consist of 20,000 men of all ranks. Under this Bill the total would be raised to 27,000 of all ranks, including 2600 in their first year in the reserves. This represented an increase of seven thousand on last year's proposal. In last year's Bill 30,600 men were liable, this Bill increased the number to 75,096, inclusive of exemptions. By 1916 the total number of officers and men in the rank and file who will have passed into the reserve will be 40,375. In addition, rifle clubs possess a membership of 36,414, and this number would be largely increased as the men completed their military training. There were 38,251 lads of an age for training as senior cadets, and the number in training was to be increased to 35,000, allowing for the balance to be physically unfit. In dealing with Boy Scouts, he proposed to allow them to retain their name and uniform, but they would have to conform to the regulations applying to senior and junior cadets. The period of training for junior cadets was fixed at 52 hours, and for senior cadets 64 hours. It was considered desirable not to over-tax cadets, but the 64 hours in question should be equivalent to 16 days' training averaging four hours per day. The training for the Territorials continued the Premier would be clearly set out by regulation. It was impossible to lay down all provisions in an Act. Provision was made for the payment of capitation allowances and for proper control of such moneys as might be expended by any corps. Sir Joseph said that under the Bill in clause 10 it would be seen that it was proposed to set up a board to which matters might be referred. He thought it would be better to follow the English military law in regard to discipline and he would move in committee to have the clause so amended that it would necessitate the appointment of a judge advocategeneral, and deputy judge advocategenerals, in the more important districts. When such an advocate attended a court-martial, his services would be available for both parties. In times of peace civil law would supersede military law, and appeals could be made to the highest civil courts. This would dispose of the necessity for the provisions of clause 10. The judge advocate - general would, of necessity, be a man of keen legal knowledge. (Hear, hear.)

WHAT IT WILL COST. The new scheme, added the Premier, would cost the country £400,000 per year when completed. In the first year, £300,000 would be expended, in the second £350,000, and in the third £4000,00. In addition, there would be £150,000 spent on equipment and plant, and £50,000 of that had already been expended on material required. The period of transition from the old system to the new would take time, and would be completed in 1911. In the intervening period in which Territorials would merge into their new organisation, provision would also be made to have the affairs of every unit investigated, and their financial affairs set Straight. He still believed that what he proposed in last year's Bill was the right thing to do, and the country should have taken over all assets when the new system came into force. The whole scheme, he added, should be very well under way by 1913. NOT UNIVERSAL TRAINING. Sir Joseph went on to point out to the House that there was no truth in the impression that the Government wanted a system of all-round universal training; the Government had no such intention. A Member: We would never countenance it. Sir Joseph Ward: I know that the country would never agree to it. If such a scheme was enforced, it would ie&(* a reaction in the course of a few yeeiS- It is our intention to compensate those wliG give up their time to go into training. The rank and file, he added, would receive the equivalent of a day's wages, at 4s a day. Officers, including headquarter's staff, would cost the country £99,000, and this, with the amount paid to recruits and Territorials under Lord Kitchener's scheme, would run the country into an

expense of £157,000 for salaries and .wages each year for officers and men in six years' time. A year after the registration took place, in 1912, there would be 25,000 Territorials in training in New Zealand, and 35,000 senior Cadets in all. By 1916 there would be available 3 05,375 trained and partly trained troops. The Defence Councli would be abolished, and the administration placed in the hands of the Commandant. Sir Joseph Ward then explained the machinery clauses of the Bill in detail. In conclusion, he said this country was at present entirely dependent upon the supremacy of the British Navy. It was time we awakened to the need for attending to our internal defence, and fu [filled our duty to the Empire.