TERRITORIAL UNIT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21144, 20 June 1940, Page 9

TERRITORIAL UNIT

COMPILATION OF REGISTER

WAR ESTABLISHMENT TRAINING NEXT MONTH (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, stated in the House of Representatives tonight that the Territorial Forces were to be brought up to war establishment. “The register is to be completed and we are asking those engaged on it to work three shifts,” he said. “On the first register will probably be all single men between 19 and 45 and on the second, all married men between those ages. “Among the questions that must be considered are the taking of ballots, kuotas, and whether there is to be a national ballot. The first question is what the establishment of land forces in this Dominion must be, and we are facing that.” Mr Jones said the General Staff was busy with plans and problems for the Territorial Force. Officers and non-commissioned officers were receiving a month’s training and at the beginning of July 5000 men, or a fortress battalion, would begin a

three months’ course. The original proposals had been re-examined and the Government proposed to take all officers and noncommissioned officers into the army school and give them an instructional course of one to two months. Possibly training would be extended during the winter and when time y/as opportune men would be put into camp for about two or three months for more extensive training. New Zealand was endeavouring to bring her equipment up to the modern scale. The Expeditionary Force was well equipped in clothing, and any surplus clothing sent overseas could be used for other British troops.