MILITARY TRAINING

Southland Times, Issue 21178, 3 September 1930, Page 5

MILITARY TRAINING

SUSPENSION OF COMPULSORY SYSTEM. GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS OUTLINED. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, September 2. The much debated question of the suspension of compulsory military training was reopened in the House of Representatives to-day when the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) outlined the intentions of the Government regarding defence matters in view of rejection of the Defence (Temporary) Amendment Bill by the Legislative Council. The Minister’s explanation was made in reply to an urgent question asked by Mr D. G. Sullivan (L., Avon). "So far as the suspension of compulsory military training is concerned the Government already possesses without legislation all powers proposed to be conferred on it by the Defence Amendment Bill,” said the Minister. “However, owing to the rejection of the Bill the Government can only spend moneys upon persons who are members of the defence forces as contemplated by the Defence Act and its amendments. This means members of the territorial force and rifle clubs, but does not include members of any volunteer organization. The Department still has power to carry out the training of territorials who elect to continue as volunteers and it is intended to train a considerable number of officers and noncommissioned officers of the territorial forces. When introducing the Defence Amendment Bill I pointed out that it was intended to retain a sufficient number of officers and non-commissioned officers to form the nucleus of a defence force and whose services would be available for the training of troops should necessity ever arise. It was also intended to provide for the training of any volunteer corps that might be formed. It was considered that the work involved in training and supervision of territorial officers and such volunteer corps as might be formed would provide employment for a considerable proportion of our present staff. The fact that the Bill has lost its way prevents the Government from carrying out its intention. So far as the training of volunteers is concerned this may allow a saving in defence expenditure of the’ amount it was proposed _ to spend upon volunteer corps as it is obvious that the Government cannot retain the services of a number of officers for whom it will have no employment.” Mr F. Waite (R., Clutha) : That is a pretty mean way out. It is a mean and low way out. The Speaker (Sir Charles Statham) called on Mr Waite to withdraw his remarks, which he did. "It is a matter for regret that our defence system should have been weakened and hardship inflicted upon a number of me:; whose services the Government hoped to be able to retain,” continued the Minister. "Although the Government is anxious to effect savings wherever it can reasonably do so, it wished to .inflict as little hardship as possible and it is most unfortunate that its intentions in this direction should have been frustrated.”