NEW DEFENCE SCHEME

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18342, 30 May 1931, Page 7

NEW DEFENCE SCHEME

GENERAL ORDER ISSUED. TOTAL STRENGTH ABOUT 10,000. ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. A general order was issued by Major-General W. L. H. SinclalrBurgess, general officer commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, today, giving details of the new defence scheme under which compulsory military training will J)e abandoned for voluntary enlistment. The total strength of the new force will be slightly under 10,000, and the scheme will be brought into force from June 1, 1931. The New Zealand Territorial Force will be recruited on a voluntary basis- Apart from this, the general organisation will remain as at present. No change will take place in the cadet units at secondary schools. The organisation of the Territorial Force will be based on the following principles(a) The retention of the present divisional organisation; (b) the maintenance of the majority of the Territorial units, but on a reduced peace establishment; (o) the retention of the highly-trained cadre of regular r soldiers tor mobilisation, peace training and administrative requirements. Training Depot at Trentham. The system further provides for:— A central training depot at Trentham camp, the establishment of some GOO officers md 9300 other ranks in the territorial force, and the training of some 300 officers and 16,000 secondary sohool cidets. The •strength of the new force- Is to be 9982, made up of 614 officers, 136 warrant officers, 1468 sergeants and corporals,, and 7764 other ranks. The total strength of. eaoh unit in each district will be: —Mounted rifles, 194; artillery,' field batteries, 128; light batteries;, 131; medium batteries (horsed), 128; medium batteries (mechanised), 114; coast batteries, 150; field companies, engineers, 233; infantry battalions, higher establishments and Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago, 535; infantry battalions, lower establishments, 230; composite companies, Army Service Corps, 110; field ambulances, 100; Otago University medical company, 292. Each command will contain the following:—One mounted rifle brigade, one field brigade, and other artillery as allotted, one field company ,of New Zealand Engineers, one depot of New Zealand Signals, one Infantry brigade, ?one composite company of Army Service Corps and one field ambulance. .

The age of enlistment will be from 18 to 25 years, while the minimum amount ;Of training which must be carried out by officers or other ranks will be six evening parades, two halfday -papades, six days’ continuous training [in camp,, and a prescribed small arm course-

The present system of training in secondary schools will be retained.