Sectarian Defence Corps.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 22, 31 May 1911, Page 5

Sectarian Defence Corps.

Inlet view ed on the defence question lit# Hon. Geo. Foivlds said there seemed to be an impression that the Defence De(airtment had encouraged the formation of denominational companies. That was not so. So far the idea only applied to senior cadets, and even these must be officered by officers selected by the Defence Department. There could lie no question of having such companies anywhere except for senior cadets in the l:ig towns. The conditions of defence scheme were primary geographical, and the force territorial. For territorials any idea of denominational organisation was quite impossible. That never had been for a moment entertained by the Defence Department, as recruits would lie drafted into already existing companies which were not now and can never be in any sense deaioniinational.