POSITION REVIEWED.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17038, 13 December 1915, Page 8

POSITION REVIEWED.

INTERVIEW WITH DR THACKER

Dr Thacker, M.P., returned from Wellington yesterday after attending the deputation to the Prime Minister with regard to local camps, and in an interview last night with a representative of the "Lvttelton Times" gave a summary of the proceedings. Dr Thacker said that of the replies received from members of Parliament four were against the proposed camps, fourteen were non-committal and thirty-one were in favour. Of the Cabinet only oue, the Hon James Allen, was against the movement. The other twelve were non-committal, but it was generally understood that they viewed the proposal in a favourable light. Mr C. H. Poole led off for the deputation and read a letter from Mr J. H. Gunson (.Mayor of Auckland) representing that the whole of Auckland city was solid for local camps, and this'letter was left with the Prime Minister. Dr Thacker read the resolution passed by the Citizens' Defence Corps at its meeting last week, and, also left with Mr Massey all his reply telegrams from members of Parliament concerning the local camp deputation. Mr Massey's private secretary took a verbatim report of the whole proceedings of the deputation, and Mr Massev stated that each member of the Cabinet would receive a copy of the repdrt for consideration. A special point was made by Dr Thacker in his speech that the camps, would be local preparatory receiving camps. The deputation was representing the feeling of the whole Dominion and its supporters considered that a local camp would have such an effect on recruiting that compulsion or conscription would not be necessary. Dr - Thacker pointed out that local camps need only be given a trial, and if they were not satisfactory they could be •stopped. Ho emphatically combated the idea and the impression that had got abroad in the North Island, and in Wellington in particular, that the supporters of the local camp movement wanted an extensive concentrating camp on the lines of rrentham. They did not want that at all. Unwanted only to draft men into a camp so that thev would bo directly enlisted, enabling minor defects to be remedied These men would help tnc limited capacity of the main camp and they would assist the soldierly pride in that the men would have dealt with elementary training and go into camp tor their main training in uniform ana not in civilian attire. Local_ camps would also create great local interest. The men in local camps would get out amongst, their relatives and mates, and they woidd know in each local district the' men who were not with them. Parents, relatives and friends would also he saved the severe cost of travelling to the central camp to see thenboys. Local camps also would prevent a stress on the limited capacity of the main camu. A man would he enlisted from the day ho put his name in. He would receive his pay at one* and would not have to go back to the country to find work. Moreover he would be near a centre where he could obtain free dentistry and have minor surgical defects remedied, and would gradually pass 'from the civilian habit to the soldier's surroundings and The arguments of the Minister of Defence of decentralisation, continued Dr Thacker, were entirely refuted by the establishment hy his own departinent of other camps in the -Sorth Tsland. Thev were—Avondale, Auckland, Awapuni. Wanganui, Rangiotu,

Waikanae, Tauherenikau (Feathereton), Trentham and Mav Morn (resumed on Saturday). Another argument was the traditions of Trehtham. Dr Thacker pointed out that the traditions of Trentham were only just beginning. Since the- epidemic £50,000 had been .spent on it, Mr Allen's other argument that there were not sufficient staff officers to drill the men could be easily met bv the mployment of returned soldiers. Further, Dr Thacker said there were any amount of drill sergeants of the British Army, military trained men, who had applied for positions as instructors, and they had been refused. If it came to that there were plenty of disabled men. and officers in England competent to instruct and they could be sent for. The military representatives at the conference, General Robin and Colonel Gibbon, did not bring up the argument of lack of officers, their strongest argument was that the men must have their final training in the central camp. Further objections were made, said Dr Thacker, on the score of expense. Yesterday morning, he said, the president of the New Brighton Trotting Club (Captain A. W. Owles) had sent him the offer to the Government, on behalf of the committee of the club, of tho free use of the club's course, buildings and plant for the purposes of a local camp. It was an ideal site, said tho doctor. It had barrack and housing accommodation; on account of its sandy soil it could never become muddy; there were adjacent acres of land for manoeuvres; it was close to an excellent bathing beach; it had an abundant water supply, excellent sanitary conveniences; and if the club, as it did. successfully catered for from ten to fifteen thousand people on race days, the local camp could easily be accommodated. Further, it was easy of access to the city by tram, and a camp there or at Timaru, Nelson or Otago, would enable the South Island men to get to their own homes for the weekend as all North Islanders could and did. Commenting on week-end leave, Dr Thacker pointed out that ou Saturday the South Island men left Featherston camp at 12 noon, and by catching a train reached Wellington shortly after 4 p.m. They had the whole Weiring in the city, and, leaving by train at 10 p.m., reached camp at 2 a.m. yesterday. .Kitchener had local camps in England, continued Dr Thacker, and if he could get the men that way they could do so in New Zealand. Australia also had local rural camps for recruiting purposes. Referring to Mr Massey's reply, Dr Thacker said that the Prime Minister made special reference to the good spirit that was manifest throughout the whole deputation. Ho was delighted, he said .to meet the deputation, for it allowed him an opportunity of hearing what he considered the ideas of the country in general. The military aspect ot the training had to be looked at, and the reputation -of the men who had gone before had to be kept up to the standard that had already been established. Mr Massey also said that he could see a good de'al in the idea of local receiving camps, and that it would be given a full hearing by his Cabinet, as he corsidered it a Dominion, if not an Imperial, policy subject, Speaking for himself, he had become more favourable to national service. The Hon J. Allen also spoke, but did not touch upon local camps. He quoted statistics "to show that Otago had more than supplied its percentage - of men to the forces. There was nothing in his speech that could be considered a rebuttal of the arguments adduced bv the deputation. Colonel ' Gibbon said that the men had to have their final drastic training at the central camp, and this could not be curtailed. Ho understood that tho deputation wanted local camps on similar linos and not preparatory receiving camps. He also said something about it not being advisable to have the men knocking about in khaki, which, Dr Thacker interjected, was an ic-iotic remark. General Robin stated that he wanted to keer> up the high standard set by New Zealauders, and insisted on the military aspect of the question. To all intents and purposes General Robin said that tho National Cabinet would have to consult the military before it cruld authorise local camps, and not the National Cabinet advise the military to established them. He was insisting that it was their military training that had madci the Now Zealauders famous at Gallipoli, when Dr Thacker interjected: "Yes, but they were splendid 'men, of more than average intelligenca." In conclusion Dr Thacker expressed himself aa very well i>ati.=fied at the deputation and tho strength of the arguments adduced in favouu of- local camps.