THE TERRITORIALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23687, 20 June 1940, Page 8

THE TERRITORIALS

WAR STRENGTH AIM WORK ON NEW SCHEME MANY PROBLEMS INVOLVED COMPILING THE REGISTER [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The bringing of the territorial forces up to war establishment was announced in the House of Representatives tonight by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. He said problems in the new scheme were now being considered.

"The register is to be .completed and we are asking those engaged on it to work three shifts," he said. "On the first register will probably be all single men between 19 and 45 and on the second, all married men between those ages. i "Among the questions that must b© considered are the taking of ballots, quotas, and whether there is to be a national ballot. The first question is what the establishment of land forces in this Dominion must be, and we are now facing that." Mr. Jones said the General Staff was now busy with plans and problems for the Territorial Force. Officers and noncommissioned officers were receiving a month's training and at the beginning of July 2000 men, or a fortress battalion, would begin a three months' course.

The original proposals had been reexamined and the Government was now proposing to take all officers and noncommissioned officers into the army school and give them an instruction course of one to two months. Results could not he gained without qualified tutors. Possibly training would be extended during the winter and when time was opportune men would be put into camp for about two or three months for more extensive training. New Zealand was endeavouring to bring her equipment up to the modern scale. The Expeditionary Force was well equipped in clothing, and any surplus clothing sent overseas could be used for other British troops.