MILITARY REFORM IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13524, 23 August 1907, Page 3

MILITARY REFORM IN AUSTRALIA.

IMPORTANT reorganisation ' proposals! A matter that is*causing -the Minister for Defence and liis expert advisers grave concern is the non-success of the volunteer movement (says the Melbourne Age). Whatever may be the cause, the fact remains that at the Easter camps the volunteers muster only half their strength, at parades the attendance percentage is not high, and the consequence is a falling off in the standard of efficiency. The volunteer movement requires some stimulating influence behind it. In some quarters it is urged that payment for camp attendance would bo an inducement for young men with military inclinations to enlist in the volunteer regiments, while others urge that the volunteers should be absorbed into the militia. The difference between these two proposals is that the former would cost only £10,000, while the latter would mean an outlay of £30,000 to £40,000. The Minister and the Board will shortly have to decide what course it will follow, for a change* from the present system is ' imperative. The committee of officers which met. in September last to consider the report of the .Imperial Defence Committee unanimously recommended the conversion of the volunteers into militia, with a pro viso that any of the volunteer corps now in existence might have the, option of remaining volunteers. Since then the Minister has received reports from all the State commandants, and they unanimously agree with the committee's finding. The stumbling block is the financial aspect of the question. The Minister expects, however, that a definite decision will be arrived at shortly. In considering these reorganisation proposal.' the Minister and the Board will also take into consideration the added importance given to the rifle club movement now that club members are likely to voluntarily undergo a course of training in drill and field work. Effect is being given to the recommendation of the committee of officers that in order to increase the value of rifle clubs as ft reserve commissions should be issued in a proportion not exceeding one commission to every 100 members. At each district, headquarters applications have been received from riflemen who desire to qualify for a commission. A syllabus has been prepared and issued, and examinations will be held at no distant date. Shortly, therefore, wo may expect, to have rifle clubs formed into companies under their own officers without having the same restraint placed upon them as upon militia troops, and yet forming an important volunteer reserve. The annual cost of this rifle club-eurn-voliinteer system is estimated at. about £4000. In the reorganisation scheme the. Military Board will not lose sight of this new and important body, and a. place will be found also for the riflemen who are marksmen only.

To reorganise the forces on these lines would require on amendment of the Do.fence Act. The Minister stair's that ho has under serious consideration the reorganisation of the militia and volunteer systems, but he declares that no Bill has vet been drafted to give effect to the schemes that so far have been put forward. Olio scheme winch may possibly be adopted, and, if so. Parliamentary sanction would Ik- required for it, would be the following:—Disregarding the permanent men, the field force to be constituted as follows: — First Line of Defence.—The militia and volunteers placed on an equal, or nearly equal, footing as to pay and allowances, and i>ossibly renamed. Present strength, 24.000. Second Line of Defence.—Members of rifle clubs who voluntarily receive training in field work, and who are commanded by their own members who qualify for commissions. Estimated strength, 20,000. Third Lino of * Defence.— who are marksmen onlv. Estimated strength, 30,000.

It is expected, hoKvevcr, that, as the movement tor the training of riflemen becomes popular, the second lino of defence would increase in strength accordingly. In considering the scheme of reorganisation th© Board is not likely to give effect to the recommendation of tho officers' committee, that the annual course of training should be extended from 16 days to 24 days, and the continuous training in camp from four days to eight days, as the added cost — £60,000—makes such an innovation impossible: but it may be considered advisable to adopt the suggestion that a certain percentage of the militiaman's pay should be earmarked for camp attendance. At the present time, by attending day parades and missing the annual camp, a militiaman may qualify to receive his maximuir annual pay, although by his non-attendance at camp ho has lost the most valuable course of training included in the year's work. An amendment of the regulations in the direction indicated would have tho effect of increasing the efficiency of the forces.