A FEW QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 21 May 1913, Page 4

A FEW QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Does provision exist for the Territorial Force to bo carried or ordered to go out of New Zealand under the Defence Act and its amendments ?

No. See Section 22, Defence. Act 1909 quoted hereunder. Any parf; of the Territorial Force shall beliable to serve in any part of New Zealand, but no part of the Territorial Force shall be carried or ordered to go out of New Zealand.

Can the New Zealand Territorial Force or part thereof be compelled to go to the assistance of Great Britain or any of the oversea Dominion or Possessions in the event of-an outbreak of war, under the Defence Act ?

No. Such service must be purely voluntary as in the case of New Zealand Contingents sent to Africa.

Does provision exist in the Defence Act for calling out the Territorial Force for service in New Zealaad in time of war ?

Yes. The Governor has powei under Sections 27 (1), 28 (1) (quoted hereunder) of the Defence Act 1909, and under the Defence Amendment Act 1912. Sections 16 and 71, (quoted hereunder) to call out for military training and servica all eligible males between the ages of 17 and 55, who have resided in New Zealand for a period'of cix months. Defence Act 1909. Section 27 (1). All the male inhabitants of New Zealand between the ages of 17 and 55, not hereinafter exempted, who have resided in New Zealand for a period of six months are liable tojbe trained and serve in the Militiar~*"' Section 28 (1). In time of war it shall be lawful for the Governor (the occasion being first communicated to Parliament if Parliament is then sitting, or notified by Proclamation if Parliament is not then sitting) by Proclamation to call upon persons liable to serve in the militia, to enxol in the Militia, and therefore such persons shall within the time and in the manner prescribed enrol in the Militia for the prescribed period.. Defence Ajiendmept Act 1912.

Section 16. When the Territorial Force or any part thereof has bsen called out for active service in New Zealand in accordance with the provision of this Act in that behalf, every member of the said Force or of that part thereof shall at all times while he remains under the obligation of active service be subject to military law as established by the Army Act, save so far as that Act is inconsistent with the principal Act, or any amendment thereof, or with any regulation made thereunder.

Section 71. (1). The Governor may by proclamation call out the Territorial Force or any part thereof for active service. (2) The Territorial Force, or any part thereof shall be liable to be employed on active service in New Zealand from the time of the publication on the Proclamation so calling out that Force, or that part thereof, until the publication of a Proclamation notifying that the active service of that Force, or of that part thereof, is no longer required.

Question. Does provision exist in the Defence Act for calling out Territorials to assist the Civil Police in quelling riots and otherwise upholding law and order ? Answer. No such provision exists.