THE DEFENCE FORCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14521, 17 August 1911, Page 2

THE DEFENCE FORCE.

GENERAL GODLEY'S FIRST REPORT. Major-General Godley's first report on tie defence of New Zealand, was presented to She House of Representatives on Tuesday. He reported that the registration of all youths available for service, had been completed with the following results up to July IS: — Territorials 21,53S Number under 21 years of age available for trailing 6309 Thoae over, but desirous of and permitted to continue service 2862 Total 31,000 Senior Cadets 29,991 This was practically just the strength required for the new army of establishment of 30,000 men. It had beea decided that for the present the general training section would not be necessary. General Godley is of opinion that the existing defences are in excellent order, and are sufficient for our present needs. He does not reoom-

mend that at present any considerable expenditure suoiud be uudeitaJ&en with regard to harbour deieuoes.

It is hoped that it wJ] bo possible to eommenw training m September. Tiie uit/trests of employers and employed, toe suitability or men for the various arms, and as tar 'as possible the. wishe* or tjw men as regards the arms m which they wish to serve, will all bconsidered. Tiie training will at fiist be most elementary and rudimentary, and no camps will be held till Christmas time, and afterwards the annual week's camp (nil be hold by regiments and battalions, and in the case of the mounted rifles, who axe chiefly drawn from farming and dairying districts, tiio camps will not as a rule bo held till near the end of the training season namely, 81st May. . The standard of military rifle shooting in the Dominion is somewhat behind the times, but it is proposed to bring it up-to-date. It is hoped that i ■ m m n atbar the y iutve completed tueur Territorial serTioa at the age of twenty-five, or their service in the reserve at the ago of thirty, will join a rule club &ad remain m ,t till the age of fifty-five. By this means a second voluntary reserve will be formed from Bio rifle clubs, who -will undertake in return tor certain concessions granted by .the Government, to carry out an annual course of musketry prescribed by the authorities, and to be called up for service in time of emergency. The existing drill halls are totally inadequate, both in number and, r.s a rule, in size, for the increased numbers of men and boys who will be trained under the scheme. The present system by which many of the drill halls are in the hands of trustees, and axe used for purposes other than drill is unsatisfactory, and is a great hindrance to efficient training. The General will submit definite proposals lor the erection of a simple and 'inexpensive type of drill hall at those places where they ar 0 required, also for Uie acquisition by the Department of thoso now in existence, which are of sufficient size and which are held on unsatisfactory terms. Cnpitat.'on grants will be paid for 1911-12 on the numbers of old volunteers existing on March Ist, in order to' assist units in clearing off their just debts. In future all recruits for the whole of the forces will be clothed and equipped by the Government. Clothing stores must be provided at once at Auckland, Chiistchurch, and Dunedin, and at many outlying regimental and battalion headquarters.