THE TERRITORIAL FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 39

THE TERRITORIAL FORCES.

TKANSITION STAGE. WELLINGTON, June- 6

The following circular from Colonel Robin, Chief of the General Staff, has been 'forwarded to officers commandingdistricts :—" In view of probable amendments to the Defence Act necessary to give effect to the proposals made by Lord Kitchener, and considering that the current year must be one of transition in the Territorial Force, corps 6hould as soon as possible, for the present, confine .the recruiting to physically fit men below the age of 23 years to maintain the corps or units at their strength. They should not increase their present strength until the permanent staff for corps is available to carry out the necessary renumbering and recruiting and reorganising of the corps up to the new establishment." SPEECH BY LORD PLUNKET. AUCKLAND, June 6. Addressing the Grammar School Cadets on parade, his Excellency the Governor said :—lt is pleasing to note from the recent cablegrams that South Africa is about to follow the lead of New Zealand and Australia, and to establish a citizen army under the scheme of compulsory training. When the New Zealand scheme came into operation there would be sure to be some complaining and grumbling, as was the case with every new scheme, particularly when

there was an element of compulsion. He hoped that the youths before him would set an temple, and show that they were in accord wiirfi the country's new defence system.