DEFENCE ACT

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 3, 5 January 1910, Page 2

DEFENCE ACT.

THE NEW SCHEME,

The Defence Act is now on the statute book, and it only' remains to put the new scheme into operation. The chief feature of the new scheme is expressed in a heading to part 6 of the Act, "Universal obligation to be trained," and it is well to quote the operative section in full. It says :.; "Subject to the provisions of this Act, all male inhabitants of New Zealand who have resided therein for six months and are British subjects shall be liable to be trained as prescribed as follows:—

(a.) From twelve years to fourteen years of age or to date of leaving school, whichever is ihe later, in the junior cadets; and I (b.) From fourteen years of age or the 'date of leaving school, as the case may be, to eighteen years of " age, iin the senior cadets'; and ■. (c), From eighteen years pf age to twenty-one years of age, in the general training sectionj and ~ (d.) From twenty-one years to thirty years of age" in the Reserve!" Provision is made for the constitution of a Territorial Force, conssting of such a number of men as is provided for by Parliament. The force will not be liable to serve outside New Zealand, but if the force is at any time below the strength contemplated by the vote of Parliament it will be Brought up to its full strength by draft from the general training section, which consists of those men between eighteen and twenty-one \years of age. ,

The service of the generdl training section will consist of fourteen days in camp and twelve I half nlays a yeai", except in itlie artillery and engineer branches, in "which it will' consist of fourteen days in'camp and twenty half-days or their equivalent.

Every person liable to come under the compulsory training scheme must register himself; failure to do so will entail the imposition of a fine and deprivation of electoral rights. Any employer who prevents an employee from doing his duty under the Act is liable to a fine not exceeding £10, but no employer is to be compelled to pay any employee for the time during which he is undergoing training. The selling of liquor in military canteens is prohibited. Power is given to the Government to maintain arms and ammunition factories in the Dominion, and to set apart^ Crown lands ■ for permanent training grounds.