N.Z. DEFENCE FORCES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13637, 23 August 1937, Page 3

N.Z. DEFENCE FORCES.

THOROUGH REORGANISATION. MINISTER S STATEMENT. Electric Telegraph.—Press Association WELLINGTON, August 21. ,l A thorough re-organisation of the territorial forces has been decided by the Governor,’' said* the Minister cf Deienee (.the* Hon. E. Jones), in a statement to-day. “It is proposed to go forward on up-bo-date lines so that the best possible results may be obtained for the expenditure on establishing an efficient system. The present voluntary basis will be retained. a greater use of mechanically equipped units and training in the open will be distinctive features of the reorganised system. The maximum effort will be concentrated on field work. In this way the physical benefits as well as military, efficiency cannot fail to be progressive and effective revised methods of control are proposed, as well as a thorough re-organisation of the machinery of the Defence Department. These do not involve anj lundamental changes in policy. It is largely a matter of bringing tli * system of command into line with that now in force in Great Britain and in the other Dominions. Certain units of the terr.torial forces will be amalgamated, the aim being to organise the force as an efficient land unit, including the manning of coastal and other stations. The responsible advisory body will be the Co-unci! of Defence, constitutes as follows: Chairman, the Prime Minister ; members, the Minister of Defence and such other members as may be appointed by the Prime Minister. Chief of the Naval Staff, Chief of the General Staff, and Chief of the Air Staff (secretary). This Council will be responsible for advising the Government on bioad matters of policy and for co-ordinating the work of the three services in the direction of securing a high standard of efficiency and co-operation. Each of the three services—sea, land and air—will in turn be controlled by a board which in the case of the territorial forces will consist of: President, the I Minister of defence; first member, Chief of the General Staff ; second member, Adjutant and Quarter-master-General ; third member, the Army secretary. Under this system a general simplification of appointments and organisation, both at army headquarters and in the three commands or military districts, will be carried out. The Government will be entirely responsible for the policy a inland tor the provision and control of the funds to carry out its policy. A more beneficial and effective system of training will be adopted instead ot a series of night parades, which suffer the obvious disadvantages of indoor drill and instruction at a time when young men have already done their day’s work. Weekend parades will be held. These will take the form of bivouacs in the open, using motor transport. The conditions of such training w ill ■ inadequate in respect of pay, rations, accommodation and transport. The same principle will be followed at the annual camps which it is intended to hold at Easter, as far as may be practicable. In addition, every territorial will have the opportunity ol attending up-to-date courses where h-3 will receive training full of varied interest, with scope for doing something worth-while. For these courses, pay, rations and tree travelling will be provided. As far as coastal defence is concerned, it is proposed to enrol a number of men for a continuous period ol three months. This should give young men an opportunity to become thoroughly conversant with the latest equipment. Incidentally, this proposal should be particularly valuable to those who, because of seasonal conditions, may desire to undertake a longer period of training | without interrupting their normal activities. With a view to improving the standard of training, it is proposed to provide a school for the higher training of senior territorials, officers and instructors, also district schools, for the training of officers, warrant officers and N.C.O.’s and men taking up special subjects. The collective training of units will consist of six days’ annual camp (ten days in the case of coast artillery), four week-end parades each of two days and six days’ course of instruction. It is proposed to grant pay for attendance at courses of construction for training purposes during annual camps. Certain units at present under strength will be grouped to form one unit of full strength. As a result selected officers of all ranks will be given an opportunity to command full-strength units and sub-units not as a skeleton force as at present. Lu each military district the fortress battalion will be retained at full strength. Three mounted rifles and three infantry battalions will bo grouped to form one composite battalion respectively. There is no question of dropping the identity of the present territorial units, ’ continued ihe Minister. “Badges, colours, regimental alliances and bands will be retained. Traditions will neither be broken nor discarded. It i.s intended to make extensive use of motor vehicles as recent trials have demonstrated how motor transport allows training to be taken further afield and carried out under favourable conditions. In future, with the exception of mounted rifles regiments, all territorials units will be motorised for training. The proved enthusiasm of motor-cyclists will be encouraged by tli«* extension of motor-cycle platoons. The additional issue of- a* more attractive uniform is under consideration so that the* wear and tear or field training may be confined to s> oh service dress. I feel confident that the country as a whole will give their whole-hearted co-operation in providing facilities for an effective system of territorial training. I desire to express the thanks of the Government to the officers and other ranks of our territorial f'orev for tlie excellent service so willingly render'd by them up to the present time and to express the hope that their advice and support, as well, as the benefit of their experience, will be Torthcnnnng in the future, concluded the Minister.