WORK AND DRILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16748, 1 June 1922, Page 5

WORK AND DRILL.

SIX DAYS’ BARRACK SYSTEM.

The proposal that employers should pay the wages of youths and young men in their employ during a six days’ period of Territorial “ barracks’’ training was made by Major R. A. Row last night in an address to members of the Chamber of Commerce on the modified Territorial training scheme now im force.

The reduced vote for Defence, Major Row said, had entailed the reduction of the training age from twenty-five to twenty-one, and from the year commencing on June 1 there would be only twenty evening drills and twelve half-day parades, but as an alternative trainees might attend a six days’ barracks, three half-day parades, and eight evening drills. The six days barracks would constitute six continuous days each of seven hours’ drill, the trainee being allowed to bring his lunch or go home for it. The Depart«g“-it had no money to pay wage'' . to supply rations and the co-'" .«.ion of the employers was neces. —*y. The six days* barracks would lead to greater efficiency, and would not interfere with sport. Lf “ barracks ” could be arranged in Christchurch, Major Row said, there would be eight in the year, so that employees could go to one or other according to the convenience of employers. The question of wages was of th 3 and it was for employe x> say whether they would pay. The first course would be held in August.

In reply to the president (Mr S. C. Orchard), Major Row said that trainees were not obliged to go into barracks, but failing that the evening and half day parades were compulsory.

Mr W. M. Tyers said that the Chamber had decidea as a matter of policy not to interfere betwen employer and employee. The matter was one for the Employers* Association or the Industrial Association.

The .president said that a-* members of the Chamber were mostly employers it was as -well to hear the Department's proposals. The chamber was not asked to come to a resolution.

Mr H. H. Smith questioned whether the Chamber had anything to do with the matter. W hat decision could ’t come to?

The president- ‘said that the Depart merit was approaching all tlie associations concerned.

Mr F. H. Hobbs deprecated shelving the matter. He said it affected everv employer who had juniors on his staff. From what he, as a member of the Employers* Association, know of employers, they would not favour a barracks system with a week off, even without pay. They could not give the time off, and they were not likely to regard military training in as urgent a light now as they did seven years ago. Mr E. H. AVyles asked whether, in the event of a general support being given to the barrack system, it would not be made compulsory by legislation. Major Row said that the Department would prefer the six days’ training on- the score of efficiency, but it was not compulsoryMr Wyles said that, as president of the Employers’ Association, he was sure that the executive would be glad to hear Major Row. It would lie extremely difficult, apart from the question of wages, to release a considerable number of juniors for a week. The president thanked Major Row for his attendance, and the matter then dropped.