THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 470, 31 March 1909, Page 7

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

SPECIAL RESERVES, . .WELLINGTON NAVALS TAKE THE ■ ' INITIATIVE. Last year tho New Zealand Council of Defence promulgated regulations for the formation of special corps of reserves, to bo constituted from retiring members of existing corps, such reserve to bo attached to tho corps from which it was organised. Under the regulations, members, of resorro corps woro entitled to all the privileges of active volunteers, and granted a capitation allowanoo of ss..per member per annum, subject to certain conditions as to parades, musketry,' etc., as wero laid down. Tho idea has not yet caught on with members who have retired from volunteer corps, and tho Toservcs may be said to exist, practically speaking, on paper only. The principlo of the idea was a good ono, namely, that tho country was entitled to ■ the' services of men who had received the benefits of two or.threo years' active volunteer service/ whoso training had cost something in the way v of pounds, shillings, and ponce, and who'lcft v tho servioe just at a time when, their recruit stago having been passed, they were beginning to' be of real value to their oorps. In Wellington tho matter has been taken up by the Old Navals' Association, and at its annual meeting last evening the pros and cons of the idea were discussed. In response to .on.invitation, Captain G. S. Richardson, Chief Instructor of Artillery, attended tho 1 meeting, and addressed tho members on the general aspects' of the scheme. i The subject was introduced by Ihe chairman, Major A. R. Hislop, V.D., who spoke in favour of tho movement. The regulations woro then read by the secretary (Mr. R. K. Couper), and Captain Richardson was •then called upon to speak. After reviewing the main points of the scheme, Captain Richardson went on to say that a reserve corps, composed of ex-members of a company, would bo capablo of-exercising a most important influence on the work of tho active members of the company to which it bolonged. In tho artillery for example, it was no easy matter to produco efficient gunners, and it was disappointing to find that many of their best and most efficient men frequently left their corps aftor three years' service,. just at a time when tho greatest benefits could be derived from their influence on tho younger men of tho corps. Another aspect of the scheme was that such reserve corps expanded tho actual strength of the service, and increased the number of available efficients. No scheme for the mobilisation of the forces could be considered perfect witnoutit. A complete state of defence was impossible, in fact. N Something very much more was wanted for the manning of the forts than tho baro quota supplied br tho active companies stationed- there. INotliing gave nim keener regret than the departure, from the artillery Lrps, of good oflicers, non-commissioned officers, and men who had sacrihecl a great deal of time and personal effort in mastering the • details of their work, only to leave it when their services were Winning, to show some return for the trouble expended on their training. in New Zealand, ho believed, and tho association, by carrying out their idea would show a splendid example to other «,rp S in the discussion which followed thorn appeared, to be a consensus o opinion as vMed ° f f° provided; the allowance of ss. per ennita it was contended, was insufficient for X Jot 4 m iinS g^^ It was finally agreed to refer tho matter to l subcommittee of the assoc ation f or further inquiry and action. "'