DEFENCE PLAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27091, 27 May 1949, Page 4

DEFENCE PLAN

INITIAL TRAINING PERIOD EIGHT THOUSAND MEN EACH YEAR Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, May 26. An initial training period of 14 weeks for youths in the 18-19 age group is expected to form the basis of the compulsory training programme if the referendum on conscription is carried. This was part of the defence plan suggested by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, in Parliament last year, and there has been no indication since that the Government has amended or abandoned this proposal. Mr Jones said the plan was that 8000 men in their eighteenth year or thereabouts should be recruited or called up each year for an initial training period of 14 weeks in the district training camps. On completion of that period they would be posted to a territorial unit. They would then be required to attend three annual camps of two weeks each, and in addition a number of muster parades and night parades with territorial units. At the end of their training period—that was, at the end of 14 weeks’ training in the first year and two weeks in each year for three years, they would be posted to the reserve for seven years with no obligation for further training. The Minister said he did not think there was any possibility of enlisting or calling up 8000 young men of the age of 18 or thereabouts each year except under some form of national service. Special refreshei courses were held recently for former war-time army officers who volunteered to serve in the territorial force, and it is understood that similar courses are contemplated for the training of non-com-missioned officers. In the meantime the recruiting and training of the Regular Force is proceeding according to plan, the Minister having stated that it was absolutely essential to have highly trained instructors and sufficient men for cadres.