DEFENCE AND RIFLE NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16582, 15 November 1921, Page 3

DEFENCE AND RIFLE NOTES.

i CLUB AND BARRACKS OOSSIR. The para fie? after the break caused by the Olympia motor show resumed last ©veiling. The syllabus of training included circuit training for the week ending November 19 and company and platoon drill, to be held at Haglev Park, weather permitting, for ihe week ending November 26. On Monday. November 28, the syllabus provides for j circuit training tor A and R Coys. This is expected to be the last parade until training resumes on January 30. The policy of the Department, commencing this year, is to hold no parade during the months of December and January. Owing to the fact that so niatly Cadets go away for their annual leave during these months, the continuity of the work carried out is interfered with. During this period a refresher course is to ho held annually for the staff, who will also take their annual leave, returning in time to have matters in working order for the resumption of training. The staff of Area IDa i« visiting all schools with reference to the registration of trainees for military service, it should he known that every lad is required to register himself os soon as he is fourteen rears of age. The onus of registering is on the hoy, whose parents are able to obtain registration forms from the J defence Department and. after filling in same, post to nearest, defence office. In some quarters, it is thought, that a pupil is entitled to wait until lie receives a notice to register. This is not so. Several who have been recently getting into trouble have tried to excuse themselves on this ground. lb is obviously not the duty of the Defence .Department to notify boys, as this is made clear by the. Defence Act. which states that the liability rests with the trainees themselves. In order to assist those liable for registration as much as possible, the area officer has given each sergeantmajor in the area a letter addressed to the head masters of primary schools. Within the next fortnight each school will be visited for this purpose. The head, master is requested to point out to his pupils the requirements of the Defence Art, which in the letter referred to are briefly outlined. Tt notified that the following courses will he hold during the vacation period. Burnham camp, southern command, a casual course will be held from January 18 to 26. At the same time a fourteen days' course foi Senior Cadet N.C.O.’s from the southern command will be held, commencing on January 18. Major R. A. Row, R. 5.0.. N.Z.S.C., will he in command, with Lieutenant H. M. Foster, N.Z.S.C.. as camp adjutant. At G.H.Q. School. Trentham. a fourteen days’ course for Senior Cadet N.C.O.’s in (1) infantry drill, (2) P. and R. training and (3) musketry. For secondary school units only, commencing on January 9. Course No. 20 for N.C.O. s of night parading companies, .commencing on January 30: same course commencing February 20. Only" specially selected Senior Cadet N.C.O.’s will he sent to attend these courses, so that training on an advanced scale will not be retarded by some members of the class who are lacking in ex?i©rienoe. The names of those desiring io attend should he handed in to the defence office, and it i« expected that the area’s quota will he rapidly filled up. The area officer reports that unfortunately he has bad to hand in to the Police Department the names of sov eral Senior Cadets for prosecution because they failed to notify their change of address, the notices sent- them having boon returned. It, has been repeatedly emphasised in this column, and also by the sergeants-major on parade, that trainees must notify change of address, no matter if that change Is in the same military area or outside to another area.