THE DEFENCE ACT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14135, 15 February 1910, Page 3

THE DEFENCE ACT.

REGULATIONS GAZETTED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. Tlio neiv Defence Act conies into operation on March 1, the result being that the Volunteer forces will cease to exist as separate units, and will become automatically the Territorial Force. The working effect of the new Act has already been fully explained, and the' first batch of regulations issued by the Defence Council has just been gazetted. The regulations .provide that for transitory purposes, §id where not in conflict with-the Act, the Territorial Force will be governed by the provisions contained in the general regulations of 1906 until the new regulations are framed and issued. Tho new peace , and war establishments, and instructions for the reorganisation of the defence forces generally, trill not be issued until after Field iMarshal Lord Kitchener’s inspection of the forces. For tho i training year 1910-11, the training for the territorial force will be that prescribed by tho old regulations, with the exception that! corps not required by those regulations to train in camp will he required to train for a period of .seven days. During training in camp all ranks will ho provided. Capitation allowance for the territorial forces for the coming ypar will bo. as under; Mounted Rifles £4, field artillery and field engineers £0 10s, other branches £3.' For each day spent in camp all ranks will bo granted the following personal, allowances: Lieut-colonels los, majors 12s captains 10s,:lieutenants and second lieutenants Bs, sergeant-majors and staff-sergeants os, sergeants 4s, corporals 3s ’6d, other ranks 3s. A horse allowance of ,10s per annum; will (he paid to each efficient officer, non-commis-sioned officer and "men of tho mounted rifles, provided his horse and saddlery is certified; by ,his Commanding officer as suitable. Paid daylight parades, as under the old regulations,' will not be authorised for the coming year. On March 1 next, the Imperial infantry drill manuals will be adopted for all unmounted units of the defence forces. All district commanders will meet the Chief of The General Staff at the headquarters office, Wellington, at 10 aim. on March 7, 1910, for the purpose of discussing the Defence Act and certain points relating.to the now regulations, and, tho establishments of the territorial forcesj senior cadets and rifle clubs. A scheme of registration of the general training section will also be considered, and a hoard of officers /of all arms appointed to compile regulations to carry out the provisions of the Defence Act. Thp. probable duration of the sfay at beadquarters will bo four days. On and after March 1 next, the elec;tion of officers will cense, and tho following procedure will come into force. First acting appointments to a commission will bo made on the recommendation of a hoard of selection, composed of the officer commanding the district and tlie officer commanding tho corps in. which the vacancy occurs.. Their recommendations will bo forwarded on the usual form (v. 4) to the Council of Defence for 'submission to the .Minister. -All promotions-, will be made , oil the recommendation of a board composed of the Inspector-General of the Forces, officer, command ihg* tho district, and officer commanding the corps in winch; the vacancy occurs. When recommend-., ing a promotion by, which any officer 1 , will bo superseded, the board will state in writing the : circumstances which have led to such recommendation. Recommendations for promotion will.,he. forwarded on the usual form (v. 4) to the Council of Defence for submission ■to : tho-Minister, signed by the officer commanding tlie ; district and , uie mil" cer commanding the corps. Pending tho return of the Inspector-General of the. Forces on agd after March 1; 1910, all correspondence hitherto .addressed to the Secretary, Council of Defence, must bo addressed to the Chief of tho ’General Staff. In other respects, correspondence will bo carried out and dealt with as liitliertoforc.