TERRITORIAL NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 17608, 24 March 1914, Page 2

TERRITORIAL NOTES

(By "Vernier.”) The visit of General Sir lan Hamilton to New Zealand occurs next month. He will land at the Bluff from Australia, and his Initial inspection in this country will be Of the carets from this district. Arrangements are now in train for bringing in the cadets from outside to “fall in” for the inspection by the General. The prosecution of territorials and senior cadets for military offences will in future be carried out by the Police Department. This news will bring joy to the members of the military staff who previously conducted tire unsavoury duty of prosecuting offenders. At the request of the Southland NonCommissioned Officers’ Club, a meeting of tire N.C.O.’s of the permanent staff was held on Saturday, March 21, to discuss the forthcoming militaVy tournament to be held on Labour Day. The following committee was formed: Scr-geants-major Fretwell. T. P. Laffey, Ivimey. Wright. T. J. "Laffey. Quartermas-ter-sergt. .Robinson, of X.Z. Permanent Staff, and Sergeant G. V. Jones, R.N.Z.A. Joint secretaries, Regt. Sergt.-major J. B. Thomas, and Quartermaster-sergt. L. S. Graham. N.Z.P.S. The committee is purely an advisory one, and has been formed to assist the X.C.O.'s Club in any way jjossibie. It recognises that the club, which held so successful a tournament last year, deserves every assistance and support, and to this end weekly meetings will be held to discuss and offer suggestions to Hie tournament committee which was decided to include on their programme events for school cadets, scouts, ex-volunteers, and civilians. Employers of labour are now being exercised in mind by the applications of employees requiring leave to attend camp. Most employers arc willing enough, but some do not find the dates fixed for the camp quite suitable. The unwilling ones will no doubt be convinced of the necessity of avoiding the penalty for refusing leave. For the benefit of employers it may be .'.rated that this year practically the who'e of the territorials in the Otago district are expected to go into camp simultaneously at Matarae, where, during the course of their training they will ho inspected by General Sir lan Hamilton. Cadets are not required ro attend camp. The compulsory period of camp is seven clear days, exclusive of time occupied in travelling to and from camp. Attendance for the first four days is voluntary, except in the case of men who have not completed the regulation number of parades for the year. Most of the mounted men will be putting in the extra four days. The bulk of the troops, however, will be expected in camp on April 24. and will entrain for home again on May 2. For the benefit of those who cannot attend the camp on the dates named, a casuals' camp will be held at the same locality from May 4 to 16. Those "casuals” having only seven days (o put in will enter camp on May 8. It may be pointed out that this casuals’ camp will be of comparatively little practical value to artillerymen and members of brandies other than infantry. The camp dates may be summarised as follows: April IS, mounted men enter camp to do 11 days; April 20. infantry and others requiring to do 11 days enter camp, leaving again on May 2; April 24. all others enter camp for' seven days, concluding May 2; May 4, casuals having 11 days to put in at camp enter, leaving again on May 10; May S, casuals having seven days to put in enter, leaving again May 16. There is talk at the present time of a change in the uniform for the citizen forces of New South Wales. The matter lias not assumed any definite shape so far, but it has been suggested that the shirt is doomed, and in the near future the troops will be clad in a jacket. If Ihe reform comes about it is likely to prove extremely popular with the men. The shirt is about the most despised thing they have, and to see the last of it would bo a happy day for the majority The shirt ns an article to do work in certainly has its advantages, but so lias u good pattern of jacket. The New Zealand uniform is a serviceable one. and very popular with the men. It is so well liked by them in fact, that the territorials are quite proud to be seen about in it—and why not encourage a man to keep his uniform on after parade if he is proud of it and likes the appearance of it? "If nothing else,” says a .Sydney writfr. ”il certainly fosters a very fine spirit, which the forces here at the present time arc decidedly lacking.” At the annual camp this year the beds will not be set down on straw foundations. as has been the case in the; past. Tlie. straw will be packed in a pallaisse. and this will obviate the happening of straw-strewn tents during the camp period. Latest orders dealing with Ihe visit of General Sir lan Hamilton to New Zealand sltow that the General will arrive at Bluff on April 27. On arrival of the boat tiain the inspection of some 1505 senior cadets will be carried out at the new show grounds. Sir lan will leave for Dunedin by the 1.:!.' express. Off", eers commanding districts will meet the Inspector - General on his arrival at their respective districts, ;tnd will subsequently accompany him at all the cadet inspect ions. At these inspections officers on parade, permanent staff and non-commissioned officers will wear caps and it is hoped that all cadet officers will by that time have provided themselves with the badge authorised for officers on the unattached list. An impression appears to have got abroad that, at the initiation of the defence scheme, it was officially stated that those members of the foice who were of the age of twenty-one years or thereabout would l>e free from service when they readied the age of twenty-three years. That impression is due to a misunderstanding of the regulations, whirl) provide for I tie transfer to the reserve by a commanding officer, with ihe approval of district headquarters, of men befor they reach the age of twenty-five, provided that they hate completed not less than four years' sen ice in the territorial forces, have reached the flrst-tJass standard of efficiency, and have ueen certified as of good character throughout •heir senior cadet and territorial service.