THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3105, 17 September 1913, Page 6

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

By Sexthy.

When in the time of national crisis Territorials are invited to volunteer for service with the much-discussed New Zealand expeditionary force, 1 venture to predict that the Wanaka district will be represented. The district thereabouts obviously cannot muster many soldiers, but it can boast of loyalty and enthusiasm amongst its tew. A week of training has. just been concluded at Wanaka. Colonel Bauchop, who did not consider it too far to travel to inspect a very small assembly of troops, upon his return informed me that about 22 men in the vicinity of Pembroke and Wanaka voluntarily and at their own expense took advantage of the opportunity to get in part of their year’s work, ihe men did not live in tents. Most of them rode to and from Wanaka morning and evening, and the remainder found accommodation in the township. _ One young man rode 14 miles each morning and the same distance each evening in order to share in the training carried out by Captain Hay and Staff Sergeant-major Wood. The training was necessarily for the most part elementary', but a small manoeuvre was also carried out. A number of cadets also attended and put in some of their drills. Free return railway passes will bo issued by the Tournament Committee to all bona fide entrants or officials taking part. Horses must bo railed or shipped at the competitor’s expense as previously, the necessary certificates to enable them to bo railed back free of charge being obtained entry from the Tournament Committee. The Union Steam Ship Company will grant the usual concession of 10 per cent, on freight on horses and ou passage moneys of competitors, etc., taking part. Recent prosecutions under the Defence Act emphasise two points. Previously a man escaped punishment for failure to parade on the plea that there was yet time to make up arrears before the year closed. Tins no longer holds good. The magistrate has made it clear that parades called must be attended. In passing it may be noted that a number of prosecutions are the upshot merely of carelessness on the part of Territorials in failing to notify their inability to attend parade's. Officers arc not without bowels, and a Territorial forwarding before a parade a reasonable excuse for absence will always get consideration. Neglect of this notification has been the cause of a number of prosecutions. The other point that may be mentioned is the determination of the department not to make fish of one and flesh of another by granting exemption to certain students. In these days of specialising a large number of the youths study after working hours, and if exemptions were granted for this reason the number of applications would be very large. In the recent case of the student who was granted a kind of exemption it would bo noticed that it -was on the distinct understanding that lie makes up the year at the end of his term. He will be returned inefficient at the close of this military year, and thus will be automatically liable for an extra year. The present method ef dealing with immigrants liable for military service works very unsatisfactorily. The procedure is that the Customs officials furnish the Defence Department with a list of the names and ages of immigrants upon arrival. So far, good. But the weakness of the system is that no addresses are supplied, and hence it is that only about 3 nor cent of the immigrants liable for servi'cc who land here arc registered. The onus of registration is of course laid upon the new arrival, \vi*o according to the Act must register within six months of his arrival. But it is well nigh impossible to trace those who do not register-. The remedy is that the Customs offices should add the addresses at which the immigrants propose to settle. The group staff won.cl then bo on the look-out for the immigrants arrival in their district and registration : would duly follow. Under the present regulations no officer will be eligible to sit for the next promotion examination unless he obtains a certificate to the effect that he has satisfactorily attended a six days obligatory course of instruction, or its equivalent of 36 hours. Obligatory courses qf instruction, in accordance with regulations, will be held as follows:—Oamaru— September 22 to September 27 (inclusive); Dunedin—October 6 to October 11 (inclusive); Invercargill—November 17 to November 22 (inclusive); Gore December 1 to December 6 (inclusive! Pay and lodging allowances will be issued in accordanie with the provisions laid down in Financial Instructions, paragraphs 166, 167, 171. and 173. Six hours’ work per day will bo carried out. In the case of officers who cannot attend any of the above courses, they must notify their respective brigade majors, who will arrange for a correspondence course equivalent to 35 hours’ in•truotion. Tho brigade majors of the

mounted rifle and infantry brigades, the district musketry instructor (with the adjutant of the field artillery brigade and the staff officer, coast defences, for technical subjects), will compose the Instruction Board. . . .. , In all cases where hardship is entailed by sailors serving under the Defence Act, application should he made for exemption under General Regulations, paragraph 427 a.