THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

Southland Times, Issue 14635, 27 January 1911, Page 6

THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

USEFUL WORK ALREADY DONE. UNDER NEW CONTROL (Special to the “Times.” STRATFORD, Jan. 2C. A brief allusion to Defence matters was made by Sir Joseph Ward in the course of his speech here to-night. He said:—“ The reorganisation of the Defence system of the country in accordance with the Defence Scheme has now been carried out. The new Commandant of flic Forces and lx is staff are busily engaged in giving effect in a practical way to what is necessary under the Act. What is essentially aimed at is efficiency, with the requisite practical knowledge and skill to enable an efficient system throughout the Dominion to bo put to the best possible uses, and I have reason to hope that under the able Commandant who is now at the head of the Defence Forces of the Dominion, the reorganisation will proceed energetically. A great deal of useful work lias already been done, and tlie necessary organisation is proceeding rapidly. The Commandant and bis staff have already finished in the Auckland and Wellington districts, and they have now gone South to complete the work in Canterbury and Otago. General Godley lias spoken to me with enthusiasm of the help that ho has received from old Volunteers and Territorials, as well as from citizens and civilians of all classes, and I would like to take this opportunity of paying a tribute to the valuable work done by old Volunteers who are now passing out of existence. 1 did so, indeed, from my place in Parliament; but next session I propose to ask the House to frame a resolution, placing on record an acknowledgment of tiie services that have been rendered by men of all classes throughout tiie Dominion. The Volunteers have done good work in the past, and I realise with tlie officers of the Defence Department iiow much the success of the universal training system is duo to the Volunteer organisation, on which it is based.” ARE CAMPS MORALLY RISKY? THE COMMANDANT'S VIEWS. (Special to the “Times.”) WELLINGTON, January 26. As the question of the safety from a moral point of view of tlie military camps that will be set up under the new defence scheme has been discussed in tit o editorial and correspondence columns of the “Southland Times,” it will interest your readers to learn that Major-General Godley (Commandant of Forces) has forwarded the following reply to a correspondent who wrote concerning the morality of the camps;— “ I am,” the Commnadant wrote, “in receipt of your letter of 17th January, 1911, in which you refer to the dangers which, may exist in military camps for young men of an impressionable age. I think that in all probability tlie accounts of immorality, etc., which have readied you have been much exaggerated; but I am fully alive to the importance of maintaining a high standard of conduct in camp and will leave -nothing undone to assure this. All camps under tlie new Act will be under strict discipline, and any sign of immorality, drinking. etc., will bo severely dealt with and sternly put down. It is, 1 regret to say, impossible to lot each man have a separate tent owing to military considerations of space, transport, etc., to say nothing of expense; but in every case a specially selected non-commissioned officer or senior private will be placed in charge of a tent and held responsible for tlie conduct and behaviour of tiio.se in that tent, and every endeavour will be made to choose men of firmness and strength of character for these positions of responsibility. I quite agree with you in realising the importance of maintaining the tone in camp on as high a level as possible, and am very glad the subject has been ventilated by you and others. 1 know from experience tli at year by year tlie tone of military camp life is improving vastly, and I am confident that under the new system tlie example set by the influx of a large number of well brought up young men such as you describe will bo a most potent factor in ensuring that the old breaches of morality and good behaviour will absolutely disappear. Commanding officers a 1 all others will be directed to pay special attention to this question, and 1 feel sure that you will find your fears unfounded. "Apart from the strict regulations which will be enforced, there will bo little time at the new camps for any other pursuits than soldiering. X amglad that you wrote to me and that 1 am able to give you this assurance. 1 should bo much obliged if you can circulate it as widely as possible among those parents who arc anxious on the subject.” xilE COMMANDANT INTERVIEWED. (Per United Press Association). DUNEDIN, January 26. Major-General Godley, Commandant of the Defence Forces, arrived here to-day and will remain hero till Saturday, when ho will leave for Christchurch, where he will inspect troops and defence arrangements before returning to Wellington on Tuesday, in tlie course of an interview tlie Commandant was asked if there was any place in tlie new defence scheme for defence cadets. Ho replied that the matter was one which had yet to be fully discussed. In further conversation Major General Godley said that boy scouts and senior cadets would not clash in any way. They were prepared to take boy scout units into senior cadets; but they must be cadets first and scouts afterwards, and must go tli rough the curriculum provided for cadets. With reference to training tlie Commandant said that the Territorial strength had been raised so much that when it was at full strength there would be only a comparatively small surplus over to be trained in the general training section. The Commandant's attention was drawn to a newspaper paragraph predicting a general post amongst officers commanding districts and others connected with the force, and lie assured the reporter that no such changes were contemplated at present. With regard to the selection of men when registration is completed, Major-General Godley said that all up to 21 years would be taken.