UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12585, 15 August 1910, Page 7

UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING.

Report of the Sub-Committee of the United Men and Women's Public Committee for Universal Military Training, published by order of the Committee:—

(References to paragraphs of liOrd Kitchener's Report are as follows, "K. 17.")

The Sub-Committee has examined the Defence Act, IDO9, and the amending Bill of 1910, and begs to report, as follows : —

1. It is to be presumed, that Parliament will follow the course adopted Uist year, and refer the Bill to a Select Committee, and call for reports from the Headquarters Staff.

2. It is submitted that the Bill should be amended to provide in terms for—

(I.) (a.) The continuance of universal training between 18 and 21; and (b.) A number of other matters now left to the regulations; and, (II.) The carrying out of Lord Kitchener's scheme in its entirety, and, in particular, its emphatic injunctions regarding appointments to the Staff Corps of Officers. 3. The Bill provides for universal training between 18 and 25, but the apparent intention of the Government is, to train merely the "quota" required under Lord Kitchener's scheme, that is, merely one-third of those between 18 and 25".

; (Parl. Paper 1910H-19A, p. 4, p&r G, and public speeches.) Apart from the military advantages to the country arising from the system of the universal training between 18 and 21 established last year, it was generally felt that there would be great gain to the national character. The system was achieved only after many years of work, and the benefits to be expected are far too substantial to permit of the system being put aside, without trial. 4. The following matters, being of the very essence of the scheme, should be definitely determined by the Act, instead of being reserved for the Regulations:— . (a.) The method of selection of the ''quotas,'"' whether by accepting as many as volunteer and balloting for the remainder, or otherwise; (b.) The periods of training in the Gentral Training Section after the first year, and in the Territorials; (Cf. Commonwealth Act., sec. 127, and N.Z. Act, sec, 41 (2)); (c.) The exemptions mentioned by Lord Kitchener, as to persons who .are the solo support of their families ; and as to criminals; (Cf. Com. Act, sec. 141); (K. 22, 23.) (d.) The method of training by "areas," each of which "producer-1 its definite quota of the Force, and is the sole charge of one permanent officer" ; and the proportion to bo borne by this quota, to the battalion, regiment, or battery; (K. 24, 27, 28, 30.) (c) The nine main heads of the duties ' of the area officer (as detailed by Lord Kitchener in paragraph 31 of his Report), in regard to Junior and Senior Cadets, young men from 18 to 25, registration, changes from one area to another, Reserve, Rifle Clubs, and the inhabitants of the area; with provision for the monthly report required in accordance with paragraph 33 of the Report; „>,'■'■ (f.) The selection, etc., of the area officer, of whom in paragraph 35 Lord Kitchener says it is "a national necessity that he should be a carefully selected man, thoroughly grounded and trained in his profession, and scientifically educated," etc.; (K. 35-39.) (g.) The establishment of a Staff Corps, to provide officers for "areas, district and headquarters staffs, and permanent troops," which corps "should be entirely drawn from the Military College," with provision for subsequent training and study abroad; (K. 40, 4.1.) (It should be noted that, from Parl. Paper 1910H-19A, p. 7, par. '21. 22, and 23, it was the apparent intention of the Government, contrary to Lord Kitchener's advice, to appoint to the Staff Corps present officers of the Headquarters and the proposed new area officei's whose appointments are now under consideration. The Minister of Defence, in answer to a question, stated recently that the present, appointments of "area" officers } would be temporary only. The question of the position of the Headquarters Staff has not yet, been mentioned in Parliament.) (h.) The method of '.selection ftna training of the Staff Corps officers; (K. 46-54.) (i.) The method of selection and training of citizen officers and noncommissioned officers; <K. 57-66, 68-70.) (J.) The principles to be applied durinf the transition period. (K. 105-114.) 5. Lord Kitchener, in paragraph 111, "1 do not consider that any of the officers now serving should be transferred to the Staff Corps, which ought to be entirely formed from the graduates of the Military College. . - iC^ Actj ssc _ 148-) Though no similar definite pronouncement is made as to the permanent instructional non-commissioned officers, it can hardly be doubted that a School of Instruction was intended to stand in the same relation to them, that the Military College does to the Staff Officers' 'Corps. It will be noted that Lord Kitchener had before him the Commonwealth Act, which, provides in sec 152 for such a school, with power to accept British Army Instructors who have the necessary qualifications, without passing through the School. ! Due provision is made by Lord Kitchener for temporary appointments. His advice for action during the transition period is very definite. It is clear be considers the scheme can not succeed unless his advice ho srictly followed. (Paragraphs 105 to 114.)

6. Those other principles of Lord Kitchener's scheme, with which this Committee is now dealincr, and which require insertion in the Act, have already been mentioned above in Clause i hereof.

7. The object of Lord Kitchener's scheme is to provide a force that shall always be ready for service. For that purpose it will train all the year round. Each man in it will thus train from 18 to 25. The total of young men of 18 is about 10,100 and the "quota" will ?>e about 3,700, that is slightly over onethird of the young men. (Parl. Paper, 1910H-19A, p. 4, parS.V . # The reasons that made it desirable to provide last year for universal trailing between 18 and 21, make it equally desirable (as already mentioned above), now to retain that provision, and further make it desirable to provide for universal training, or some equivalent service to the country, or some form of taxation, between 21 and 25. Only thus, will those who are not of the best physique have a. chance of obtaining the benefits of the training, and only thus can two-thirds of the young men of New Zealand, who are not in the quotas, share the privilege nnd the burden of helping in the defence of their country. The new scheme is by a master in finance an & Avar, and commands national support, irrespective of party. To depart from it leaves the country withoxit a standard by which to test its measures for "defence, and national honour and national eafety both demand

that the country should adopt the scheme in its entirety. 9th August. 1910. 162, Featherston Street. Wellington.