PRIME MINISTER'S INTERESTING STATEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2905, 17 November 1909, Page 86

PRIME MINISTER'S INTERESTING STATEMENT.

(Per UnitkT) Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 12.

The Prime Minister, interviewed on the question of compulsory military training, said that two training camps saould be established within a reasonable distance of the main trunk systems of railway in both islands. They requited at least 12,000 acres for. each camp (15,000 .acres, would be better), and the whole of the necessary equipment would be permanently established at both centres and instructional staffs would be permanently resident at the camps to enable work that - Was re- " s<ard(>-d as so essential in matters of training, to be readily available for* those taking part

The general arrangements would "be such that men could be in attendance at suitable times throughout the y-sad*. 50 ks to receive the imdeniable benefit referred to With large areas of land every branch of military training could be carried out, an-d the areas must be sufficiently large to provide for artillery work, and to ensure that tho training generally was carried out in a practical way.

Instead of having an irregular and unceilaiu t*y«,t-9m of what were known as Eastei- camps, there would be a recognised and dsiinite system of t progiessive military "nortc. The caanp would require to b9 in central positions in both islands, so that fastead of the men beiii^ carried long distances in one direction they would impinge .upon a given centre from the extreme €i>cf* of each island., thus evading the pre&enfc unsatisfactory system- of long distance travelling. • • • ' As soon as legislation was outlined by Parliament the requisite 'and in both i.-lancis would be set aside for th« purpo&3 of camp*. On the score of ecoabjay buiWingsthat were required wh^-large bodies, of men were bixnight together, would he 'of a permanent nature,, which should: in. the long run effect a comudera'ble saving.- !