MILITARY TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21100, 6 February 1932, Page 11

MILITARY TRAINING.

THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM. ENCOURAGING PROGRESS MADE. KEEN TYPE OF RECRUIT. Pleasure with the progress of the milit.ary volunteer training system was voiced yesterday by Major-Genera] W. JL. H. Sinclair-Burgess, general officer commanding the New Zealand Defence Force.fi, vrho % conducting a tour of inspection of the volant eer units throughout New Zealand, To date be has inspected the Waikatc Eegiment, North Auckland Regiment, 2th j Field Company of Engineers, 2nd Company Army Service Corps and ".he 2nd Field Ambulance Army Medical Corps He will continue to tour during the rtex: three months of the field training season "The keenness which I Lave encoun tered so far on the part of the officers and men has been very encouraging," said Major-General Sinclair-Barges* "The men are of an excellent :ype and. if view of the difficult times, recruiting throughout the Dominion has come fnfir up to my expectations." A few of the units were up to their fall establishment and many other;: were gradually growing in numerical strength. Some officers, anxioos to see more rapid progress made., had tended to feel discouraged, but there was no need for this when the difficult times and their inevitable effect upon volunteer recruiting were considered. In the initial period? vi field training such as were now taking place, the aim was to give the men practical demonstrations and examples of the more advanced field work, so that too high a standard of efficiency should not he expected. The experience which the men gained during these courses would stand them in good stead during their individual training throughout the y~ar. for it would show them the objective toward which they were working and stimulate their interest in their own progress.

The North Auckland Regiment, which he inspected at Narrow Keck vert.erDay. had 100 per cent- of officers in camp and 74 per cent, of other ranlis. This,, said, was very encouraging. On Monday Major-Generai SinclairBurgess will inspect ibe Ist Company .Army Service Corps and will aiso visit the Hobsorjville air base. He will leave for Wellington on Monday evening, and after inspecting various Wellington units will proceed to Canterbury. He expects to return to Auckland to inspect the mounted regiments when they are undertaking their field training later in the year. AUCKLAND GSAJOIAE. SCHOOL. CADETS COMPLETE COUESE. A three days' coarse of consolidated training was completed by the Auckland Grammar School Cadet Battalion in the grounds of the school yesterday. The course concluded until a massed parade, ■which comprised artillery -work -with field guns, Tickers machine-gun and Lewisgnn -work, signalling, riSe esercise. infantry training, physical and recreational training and a ** tabloid ** dis,play of athletics, the latter aimed at bringing out tie athletic qualities of each bay. The commanding officer of tie battalion. Major K. J. Deilow. was assisted by tbe area officer. Lieutenant B. S. Jadson. V.C., and instructors from tbe New Zealand permanent staff and the New Zealand Artillery. A special feature was made of the non-commissioned officers'" class, as it has been found that at the end of the school year tbe battalion loses a large number of its best and senior non-commissioned officers through their leaving schooL More nori-eonmiissiGned officers than will be needed this year are therefore being trained in view of requirements next year and probably the year after. It is found that this develops qualities of leadership and teaches tbe lads to accept responsibility. Among tbe benefits which follow from commencing tie school year with consolidated training is the attitude with which tbe boys settle down to their regular school work. The discipline of the "raining assists the boys to readjust themselves to tbe atmosphere of routine after a long period of holidays and freedom. -At tbe conclusion of the parade Major Deilow addressed tbe lads and congratulated tbem upon their display. He said they bad worked splendidly, ind he was quite sure that, judging by the good beginning they had m?de, they would prove themselves the best battalion the school had ever hadThe headmaster, Mr. H. J. D.. Mahcn, expressed himself as highly gratified with the results of the three days'* training and the high standard attained.