MILITARY CAMPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15513, 21 January 1914, Page 10

MILITARY CAMPS.

APPEAL TO EMPLOYERS.

LARGE ATTENDANCE WANTED.

[by TELEQBAFH.PKESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday. As is now generally known, the Defence authorities are planning to hold, in Ihe ordinary course of progressive training, large territorial camps, at which as many as possible of the men may be assembled at one time during the visit of General Sir lan 'Hamilton (Inspector-General of His Majesty's Overseas Forces). ■ Employers are naturally wondering how this , will affect them with regard to their employees, a subject on which General Godley threw some light in conversation with a reporter. It was hoped, he said, to get as many men as possible of all branches of the service into camp together, not only in order that the Inspector-General of the Overseas Forces might see them, but to make it possible to obtain the obvious military necessity of accustoming the men of all three arms, horse, foot and aTtillery, to work together in co-operation. The military authorities quite understood that it might not be possible, in the interests of employers, to insist upon every man attending this first camp, and they did not, therefore, expect an attendance of 100 per cent. They did, however, expect and trust that employers would let as large a percentage of their men as possible go to the first camp, and to keep back only the barest possible minimum with which they could carry on their business. For these, an alternative, or casual camp would be arranged. The training at this camp would be, of necessity, only second rate, and of inferior value to that given in the first camp, as the proper regimental organisation could obviously only exist during the first statutory camp, and the regimental officers could attend it only.