NEW TRAINING SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14573, 9 January 1911, Page 6

NEW TRAINING SYSTEM.

FIRST CAMP IN PROGRESS.

INSTRUCTING THE INSTRUCTORS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.]

Featjierston, Sunday. The holding of an instructional training camp at Tauherenikau is the first practical step taken in connection with the scheme for compulsory military training. All the permanent instructors of the Dominion are present, and the officers and sergeant instructors who have been given probationary appointments. The object of the camp is to teach the new staff how to instruct, and ,to put the permanent staff through the same course, and so make the whole future scheme of instruction uniform. This is necessary because the same training will be carried out in every area.

Colonel Heard, the commandant of the camp, was very fortunate in tho selection of a site for the camp. A more suitable place could not have been hit upon. The Tauherenikau River is within a stone's throw, and in front of the camp there is a natural parade ground many acres in extent, which during the next two months will be used continuously for instructional purposes. The greatest possible care has been taken in the establishmajit of a thoroughly up-to-date sanitary and water supply system. Lieutenant-Colonel Bey, of Grevtown, the medical officer of the camp, inspected the arrangements this morning, and was loud in his praises, saying there was nothing even that ho could, suggest in the way of improvement. The water is raised to tanks by means of a ram from the clear running spring at the rear of the camp, , pipes being laid to various points, where taps have been erected for the draw off. An acetyleno gas plant has been erected, and all the mess tents and marquee lecture rooms are lit at night by this illuminant.

The men for the most part a.re a very smart-looking lot, both officers and instructors, and keenness is evident on all sides. Many of those chosen to take part in the camp are throwing up good positions and business to embrace a military career, the love of soldiering being' the incentive. As to uniforms, there are hardly ' two men dressed alike. . Some are clothed in the dress of Imperial regiments; others, who have had volunteer commands, are dressed in the particular uniform of their corps; numbers again have the khaki service uniform used in the South African campaign, while several of the sergeants and instructors have no uniform at all, but they will have to find some sort of military dross to see them through the camp.

The foundation of the new military scheme is to bo laid here, and the success or failure of New Zealand's attempt to introduce compulsory military training may bo said to rely upon the present camp. The men who have to carry out and administer the new scheme, which is moulded on Lord Kitchener's report, are here, and if they are not turned out competent to administer their respective areas in a proper condition, to impart to others the knowledge they have obtained, the camp will have been useless, and chaos will be the inevitable result. This fact is recognised by all rank's, ana iney are soaping their course accordingly. The plan of instruction has not yet been, disclosed but the first parade will take place at 8.30 to-morrow morning.. The mounted branch has been separated from the infan-' try, although for a good deal of the work they will be taken together. The following are the squads —"A" Squad : Lieuts. J. Bosworth, B. Hay, Nutsford, W. Morrison, H. Glendining, C. Spragg, H. Richardson, C. Powles, R. Matthews, W. Meddings, C. Hawkins, W. Turnbull, G. Banks; "B" Squad : Lieuts. W. Burgess, A. Morton, H. Wheeler, -F. Lampen F. Hume, H. Robinson, C. Brown, G. King, W. Fin.nis, C. Andrews, It. Frascr, F. Hudson, C. Melville; "C" Squad: Staff-sergeants H. Dunham, Olney, R. Mooney, T. Lambert, W. Walker, S. Nicholls, Salt, McGoun, Thatcher, W. Kerr, A. Don, N. Cuff, Connolly; "D" Squad ; Staff-ser-geants Holdon, West, E. Tingey, Hobbs, Woodward, J. Steele, J. Morrison, Grindell, Ryan, Moncrieff, W. Stead man, W. Glanvilie, R. Davis, J. Stevenson, C. Wright, F. Swiney; "E" Squad: All permanent staff instructors except W. Grant (Invercargill). Although some of the area officers have captain's commissions, they all rank here as lieutenants, and they have, of course, discarded one of their stars. The pay to commence with is £250 a year, including £50 house allowance. Amongst the ser-geant-instructors there are several officers, but they have had to take off all their stars and rank as if they had never earned them. This step is necessary, as all must start on the same footing, promotion going by results alone. There is nothing in the nature of luxury in the camp. The food is plain, but wholesome, and all hands being satisfied with the catering, there has been no lavish waste of money, and there is certainly no frippery or foppery. The men are in for a hard time of work and •study, the best available material in the way of soldiers having been chosen. The following staff lias been appointed: —Commandant, Colonel Heard, director of military training and education assist-ant-commandant, ' Major Hughes (late A.A.G., Nelson); camp adjutant, Captain Hamilton (A.D.C. to His Excellency the Governor); camp quartermaster, Captain H. H. Browne; headquarters' staff instructional officers, Captain Chesney (A.A.G., Wellington) and Captain Duigan (instructor of field engineer services and signalling). The camp sergeant-major is Staff-Sergeant-Major Healey, of Timaru; and camp quariermaster-sorgeaut, Staff-Sergeant-Major Kibble-white, of Oamaru. Lieutenant-Colonel Bey, of Grey town, is the camp medical officer. The musketry instructors will be ' Staff-Sergeant-majors Rose and Henderson, of Wellington.

On February ,18 all officers commanding districts and all .officers of the permanont forces will come into camp, when matters affecting uniform system of training will be exhaustively - dealt with.