COMPULSORY TRAINING

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13909, 21 May 1909, Page 3

COMPULSORY TRAINING

THE AUSTRALIAN SCHEME

The following is the outline of a scheme tur mo provision ol a land deKiico loreo, us given by Air 1' islier, tne Loiuntonwcaltli j-Teuiier, a snort liuiu

u e propose now that we shall have compulsory training, beginning >\iui boys in scnool atter 10 years, and ending ;u Zd years. There wilt he as soeiated with this military training, as lar as regards boVs at school, etlieicni medical inspection. This medical inspection will also apply to girls aL school, and will, we believe, result in tiie saving to .Australia of many valuable lives. From 10 to 14 years the boys will be physically trained under this compulsory universal training scheme. Junior cadets from I.U lo i jl years will have two hours' weekly training; senior cadets, from 1-1 to 18, will have J.2 half-days and 24 night drills throughout the year. All corps of the military forces from 18 to 20 years will have .12 half-days and 24 night drills, as well as l(i days' continuous training at camps each year. The scientific corps, troni 20 to 21 years, .will have 10 half-days and 10 night drills, as well as 1(5 days' continuous training in •'amp. Other corps, from 20 to 2.1 years, will have 12 hall'-days and 21 night drills, and seven continuous days' training in camp. The voluntary military forces., from 24 to 30 years, will have seven continuous days' training at camps each year. The number of men available in the first year (1910-.ll) will be 38,000, .the'second year -51,000, the third year 03,000, the fourth year 81,000, the fifth'year 99,000. the sixth year 1 lU.OOO. and the twelfth year 21.9,000. Turiiing to the total military training, the compulsory attendance of senior cadets in the equivalent of whole days was 48, the compulsarv attendance of military forces in the equivalent of whole days was 70. In eaTiip they will be taught the art of defence, including mobilisation and.other important .things. In i'or-

mulatiu" this scheme we sue actin,., on the "best advice that our are able to give. J. llt ]' ,• 'special a scientific course, lneludm.-, -I training. J' l addition, it is ' tention" to continue the to in for those over the ages spiimi.i ■ We hone that many will continue in the forces after reaching the age 01 •■>L years. There "ill be a piepaia tory outlay of £580,000. 'I will cost in the first year £1,200,0. H), as against £1,097,000 proposed m thi scheme of the late Government. Jhe second vear will cost £l,-IS,OJO, a. against £1,021,000 proposed m the scheme of the late Government. lhe third year, by way of similar son, gives £1,301,000 and £ -0' 4 ,0U. I'he fourth vear will cost £ 1 ..£>-J,oU■>> tin; hrtu vear £L,by9,ooo, and tlie sixth year '£1.407,U00, and the latter would *De the maximum. M the militia in the country districts were retamed there would he about 000- , mostlv Light ilorse—at the same rates it wiii o>- necessary to add in the second year, and £-30,000 alterwards. The duierence in the present expenditure in and this proposal (and we shall have a force six tunes as lar'j'c as the present forces; will ue onlv .1000.000 uuditional. (.Applause.) While in wimp the boys, from i# tu 20 years, will Oe paid ids a week, ami those whose ages range iron) -0 upwards will be paid l'2s (3d a week each. V\ e associate with tuis sclieme the establishment of a gun tactury, a small arms factory, and ammunition factories. We timik tiiesc tilings are absolutely inseparable troni proper Jefeuce. ,