THE NEW DEFENCE SCHEME.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 57, 12 March 1910, Page 7

THE NEW DEFENCE SCHEME.

COLONEL PORTER'S VIEWS

NEW ZEALAND WILL LIKE IT.

[FROM OTTE COEEBBPONDENT.]

CHRISTCHURCH, March 11. Colonel Porter, who commanded the Seventh Contingent in South Africa, says that his knowledge of New Zealand men under military command leads him to believe that there will be very little trouble in putting into operation the compulsory training clauses of the new defence scheme. He thinks that it will be very much like dealing with the militia forces in the early days. There will be men who will resent discipline and the efforts of those in command, but their influence will not extend very iar. The whole thing, however, he adds, will call for very delicate, tactful, and careful handling, and the typical old military officer of the pipeclay martinet stamp will have to be as little in evidence as possible. On the whole he thinks that both the Territorial Army and the military training camps will become very popular, and will soon be accepted as national institutions.