MILITARY MATTERS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16418, 11 January 1919, Page 9

MILITARY MATTERS.

f INTERVIEW WITH SIR JAMES ALLEN. The Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen), -who returned to the city from Akaroa, on Thursday evening, yesterday morning visited the Orthopajdic Hospital in Christchureh for returned soldiers. Ho informed a "Press" representative last evening that satisfactory progress was being made with the institution. In the afternoon he motored out to Tai Tapu and visited the local flower show. Returning to Christchurch ho inspected the Canterbury Horticultural Society's exhibits, after which he paida call at the Returned Soldiers' Association's club rooms, and was introduced to officials, whom he had not met before. He returns to Wellington this evening. In the course of an intorviow with a "Press" reporter, Sir James Allen referred to tno proposed' new Territorial scheme, which, he said, had the hearty backing of himself and Defence Headquarters. In his opinion, the basis of tno new Territorial scheme should be a throe or four months' continuous training, when a youth reached 18 years of age. Such training would make him a good citizon and improve his health and physique, besides its value from the military noint of view. Such a couxso would alW> obviate the necessity for evening parades, which did not make a Territorial very efficient. The statement has been made that the Dominion would not require all the guns and equipment belonging to the New Zealand Division in Prance, and that, therefore, all the equipment would not como to New Zoaland. Sir James Allen, however, assured "The Press" representative that all the guns and equipment would be brought to the Dominion, as it would be required for our ordinary training purposes, as well as for defence.