Military Training: Important Proposal Compulsion Urged:

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1938, Page 5

Military Training: Important Proposal Compulsion Urged:

[Per press Association. Copyright} WELLINGTON, This Day. 1 CONFERENCE OF SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE NEW ZEALAND EX- " PEDITIONARY FORCE WAS HELD IN WELLINGTON RECENTLY TO CONSIDER THE PRESENT CONDITIONS IN RELATION TO THE LAND FORCES OF THE COUNTRY. THE MEETING, WHICH WAS THE FIRST HELD SINCE THE CONCLUSION OF THE GREAT WAR, WAS CONVENED BY MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ANDREW RUSSELL, WHO PRESIDED. IT WAS DECIDED TO URGE THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING. Other officers present were:—Major-General Sir Donald McGavin, Colonels S. Inglis, H. E. Barrowclough, J. J. Esson, R. St. J. Beere, J. H. Whyte, J. Findlay, C. G. Powles, A. B. Charters; Lieutenant-Colonels H. E. Avery, H. Holderness, L. H. Jardin, G. Mitchell, D. Colquhoun and A. H. Herbert. The conference took a serious view of the present situation, and after a lengthy discussion decided to make its conclusions public in the form of a manifesto. In doing so, the conference desired it to be clearly understood in advance that it did not desire to cast any reflection upon past or present administrations for the existing state of affairs, and it considered that volunteers of all ranks were certainly entitled to the best thanks of the community for their loyal and devoted services.

Hopelessly Inadequate. “It was unanimously agreed that the present provisions for the establishment and training of land forces in New Zealand is hopelessly inadequate,” the manifesto proceeds. “The following are the principal matters which led the conference to this conclusion: “Although a system of voluntary enlistment has been in force for seven years, it has at no time during that period been possible to fill effectively even the peace-time establishment of the force. That establishment is about 9000, and of these only about 3000 attended camps last year. The conference was of the opinion that a force of even 9000 is grossly inadequate if the country is to discharge its obligations to itself and to the Empire. “Of the depleted number of 3000, it is estimated that no more than onethird are of sufficient age and physique for active service. A very small proportion of the force remains with the colours long enough to attain any useful standard of efficiency. Not Attractive. “The present system is not attracting in sufficient numbers the type of men from whom satisfactory leaders can bo selected. There is no obligation on a recruit, once he has enlisted, to serve for any specified period, with the result that there cannot exist that standard of discipline which is essential in a fighting force. The system is not creating any trained reserve. “The energies of territorial officers are exhausted almost wholly in the effort of obtaining recruits and securing their attendance at parades. He has insufficient time for his real task, which is the command and training of his men. “Units are of insufficient strength to enable them to carry out effective collective training or afford their officers the necessary experience in command and tactical handling of troops. Expeditionary Force. “Having regard to the foregoing conclusions,” the manifesto proceeds, “the conference is of the opinion that the country is not getting a satisfactory system of defence in return for the money which is being expended. It is to be borne in mind that the fate of New Zealand may be determined overseas, and that the dispatch of an expeditionary force may become necessary, but this will be a matter for the decision of the Government of the day. The conference is of the opinion that the defence system of New Zealand should be such that it will produce an ample supply of manpower, efficiently trained, properly or-

ganised and equipped, and immediately available to meet any emergency. Universal Military Training. “To this end it urges the re-estab-lishment of universal military training. It is therefore recommended that at the age of 18 every youth other than those physically or mentally deficient should be liable for training, and undergo a course of recruit-train-ing at established centres for a period of not less than three months. At the conclusion of that period, the recruits should be drafted to territorial units in such numbers as are found necessary to complete establishments, and carry out with those units a prescribed course of training, which should include 14 days’ continuous service in each year for a period of not less than four years. Emergency Powers. “The conference recognises that in a time of emergency the mobilisation of all the resources of the country would be absolutely necessary, but the general application of this principle is a matter upon which the conference claims no expert knowledge and therefore makes no further comment.” Letters were read from BrigadierGeneral A. E. Stewart, Colonels R. C. Allen, and A. G. McKenzie, expressing themselves as being in favour of the re-establishment of universal military training.