THE ARMY REPORT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 118, 24 June 1914, Page 3

THE ARMY REPORT.

GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

Press Ass9ciation,

June 23

Speaking to a reporter on the subject bf. General Sir lan Hamilton's report, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. James Allen, said he hoped that certain of the recommendations dealing with the administrative part" of the system would be carried out at once. This would not require legislation. It would have the effect pf bringing the and financial portions of the scheme under the Quartermaster-General. "We hope," he said, "to train up men who are specially gifted in the way of administration and finance and to strengthen the Department in that • respect, and at the same time bring it into closer touch with the Minister. The Inspector-General has recommended exactly what from my own experience 1 thought was necessary." The Minister said that in regard to Other recommendations the general officer commanding was going through them With the Territorial officers, and they would, be discussed by the Permanent Staff and the R.N.Z.A. on Monday and Tuesday next. The result of these doliberations would no doubt be sent on to him. Until he got that result he could riot say anything definite. The Inspector 1 General had made certain recommend ations in regard to training which he considered very valuable, and which wont in the right direction, but they could only be adopted if it was found they could be piit into operation without, ask r ing from the people more than ought to be asked in the way of sacrifice of time. Naturally also they had to consider tho financial aspect of the question, but he did not think that was seriously affected by what General Hamilton had recommended. As to material, new mountain guns for 1) Battery would be out here shortly. •Regarding the Senior Cadets in scattered districts, a subject on which the Inspector-General had a good deal to say, the Minister remarked that.if they were to re'ly upon Senior Cadet training as a substitute for recruit, training, the General's suggestion was a sound one, but it had to be worked out in' detail to see whether it was feasible. The General's recommendations in regard to Territorial training were also, he considered, thoroughly sound, though they involved sacrifice of some more time in camp. He believed,, however, that the country corps wouhl be quite ready to fall in with; the suggestion. It would dp away with evening drills. Here again it was a matter of working out details.