THE TERRITORIALS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7851, 13 July 1911, Page 5

THE TERRITORIALS

POSTING TO UNITS. AN OFFICIAL MEMORANDUM. A circular memorandum, embodying preliminary instructions in regard to the posting of recruits to unite, signed by Lieut.-Colonol J. T. Burnett-Stuart,

D.S.O. (Director of Military Operations and Intelligence) has been forwarded to all district headquarters. This states that the responsibilities of the posting 'officers will not end with the posting of individuals to units. The necessity i‘o.r dapping the whole Dominion in such a Iway as to provide each soldier and 'cadet with an accessible centre at which to do. his ordinary drills calls for a more detailed arrangement. The internal organisation of units (and consequently the allotment or posting of individuals within units) must, therefore, ho snbsorvent to this condition. In the lease of a force recruited under a system lot universal home-training, this implies la territorial organisation, extending down to such bodies of men, however .small, as can conveniently ho assembled together for tho periodical performance of their drills.

Whore battalions and, other units are located in populous centres, there aro no difficulties. In such cases there is "room for considerable latitude in tho posting of individuals, since all will be within easy reach of the headquarters of the unit. 'lt is in the internal organisation of the country battalions and of the mounted rifle regiments that greater decentralisation and more careful allotjment of individuals is required. In con[nection with these scattered units there aro'two points to be considered—(l) "What is to bo the radius of compulsory attendance at drills and parades: at what distance from his place of residence can a |man reasonably be compelled to attend la drill i (2) Who is to conduct the drills and parades ? COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE.

In connection with the first point it (has been decided that, as a general (guide, the radius of compulsory attendance for drills and half-day parades shall be one hour's journey; and for w hole-day parades two hours’ journey. The reply to the second point is that in theory the company' officers and non-coni-anissionod officers should be the instructors of the men, while the members of the New Zealand staff corps, permanent force, and permanent staff bo the instructors of the company officers and non-coms. This is not universally so now, but will eventually bo so in ’practice. As nearly ’all the force this [year will come under the heading of recruits the permanent staff must do most of the drilling. Taking the strength of the Territorial force (exclusive of garrison and field (artillery and engineers, who have their •own instructors from the R.N.Z.A.) as being this year approximately ‘23,(XID men, the proportion of instructor’s to territorials will he about one to ISO. The organisation of the senior cadets will be governed by tho same principles and considerations as those applying to the Territorials. ESTABLISHMENTS. It is not intended that tho establishments laid down for Territorial units should be rigidly adhered to, _ Those establishments have been compiled to combine as far as possible the requirements of each .unit for war with its re- I quirements for training in normal times of peace. As regards war they are final; hut as regards the composition of units in peace some latitude is permissible as to the numbers of individuals posted. It must, however, be understood - that no extra squadrons, companies, etc., are to bo added to units without sanction from headquarters, and that the proportion of the various ranks is constant. Provision has already been made for the addition of an extra detached squadron to each of tho following regiments of mounted rifles:—lst (Canterbury Yeomanry), at Kaikoura; Ith (Waikato), at Whakatane or Opotiki; 9th (Wellington East Coast), at Gisborne; 11th (N. Auckland), at Kaitata or Mongonui, Senior cadet companies may vary considerably in strength; but no company may' consist of less than one officer and thirty cadets, and the full establishment as laid down should be aimed at as far as possible. MAORIS. In districts where the native population is scattered Maoris will bo posted to squadrons and companies as individuals. In places where there are large native settlements or pahs Maori troops or sections will ho formed as paid of the establishment of squadrons or companies. Should the number of Europeans registered be sufficient to complete the required establishment without the inclusion of Maoris, a fifth Maori troop or section should he formed extra to tho establishment of the squadron or company. RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS. In the case of certain well-known denominations, such as ITieuds (Quakers), the posting officers will post to non-com-batant branches without further question. In other cases, when there is any doubt as to the authenticity of the claim, the posting officers will demand such further proof as they require. The Act provides that tho burden of proving exemption—i.e., from combatant training —lies with tho person claiming exemption ; .such proof would take tho form of a ruling from a Magistrate’s Court or from a Stipendiary Magistrate. SAILORS. Men within the ago of liability who are continuously employed on coasting-ves-sels or on. ships plying to and from New Zealand must register, but will not bs enrolled at present.