DEFENCE ALTERATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17691, 28 January 1921, Page 4

DEFENCE ALTERATIONS.

REARRANGEMENT OF GROUPS, NEW AEHS PROVIDED FOE[BT TELEGRAPH.- OWN COEBESPOKDSSX-J WELLINGTON. Thursday. The reduction of the number of military districts to three involves the rearrangement of the of which-there are to be four in each district. It appears likely that the Northern groups will Be (1) North Auckland; (2) Auckland City and suburbs; (3) Waikato and country as far down as Taumarunui; (4) Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay. The central groups based on Wellington may be:—(1) Taranaki and Manawafcu; (2) Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa; (3) Wet lington City and suburbs; (4) Nelson and Marlborough. The inclusion of Nelson and Marlborough in the central district has not yet been decided npon,' but it is being considered. The districts axe mors easily accessible from Wellington thast from Christchurch, and if they remain m the southern district that district will be too large in point of population. The southern groupß are likely to be:—(1) Ohristohurch City and suburbs; (2) Canterbury and Westland; (3) Ihmedin City and suburbs; (4) Otago and Southland. Each group will provide for the territorial army a battalion of infantry and its proportion of other arms. This will involve the disappearance of five infantry regiments, but on the other hand, new arms, including mobile heavy artillery and trench guns have to he provided.