THE DEFENCE ACT

Southland Times, Issue 17347, 19 May 1913, Page 5

THE DEFENCE ACT

ITS VALUE AND IMPORTANCE. SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER. A PACIFIC NAVY. (Per United Press ’Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 17. The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. P. Massey) at the request of #ie Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, acting Minister of Defence, presented medals to two members of the senior cadets who formed part of tile New Zealand cadet team which visited Canada. In the course of a brief address, in which he complimented the team on its achievements in Canada, Jir Massey said he was glad to be able to say that matters connected with the Defence Act were, upon the whole, working smoothly and well, and the people of the country had begun to realise its value and importance. It was hardly necessary for him to remind them that the Government had found it necessary to send the Minister of Defence to England, and that while he was there Mr Allen had had an opportunity of conferring with the Imperial authorities, both on land aaid naval defences. Some of the Government’s journalistic friends were impatient to know what had been done, and that would be made public in due course. The proper thing was for Mr Allen to get back to New Zealand, and have an opportunity of conferring with his colleagues, and any proposals the Government had to make would be laid before Parliament in a proper and constitutional manner. “As far as I am concerned.’’ Mr Massey continued, “and 1 speak as a citizen of the Empire, we ought to do everything possible to provide for land defence. so that in the event of trouble we may be able to take care of ourselves. As there is an Imperial fleet in the British home waters able to hold its own against any possible enemy or enemies, so 1 hope the time has come when there shall be a British fleet in the Pacific also able to hold its own against any probable combinations in these seas.” Mr Massey concluded with a reference to H.M.S. New Zealand as representing the British navy on which Lite Empire depended. TERRITORIAL COMMISSIONS. CHRISTCHURCH. May IS. Colonel Herd gave a reporter a brief skeleton outline of a scheme which is to he followed in future in the granting of commissions in the Territorial forces. Starting from July of next year, commissions would go by competitive examinations. All non-commissioned officers of territorial forces and non-commis-sioned officers of senior cadets of the rank of sergeant will be eligible to compete, provided they are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five. The year’s positions, as they fall vacant, will be filled in order of merii, the senior men in the examination list being given the choice. In the event of a successful, candidate at the examination not finding a place, he will have to sit again at the examination in the following duly. Examinations are to hold good for due year only. In all cases the candidate will require to have the approval of the officer commanding the unit to which he is attached. .