FEDERAL DEFENCE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 900, 20 August 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL DEFENCE BILL.

NEW ZEALAND AND THE TRAIN-ING-COLLEGE. ( By Telegraph-Press Asuoelation-Cupyrigbt. : Melbourne, August 19. In the course of his speech in the Senate on the Defence Uill, Senator l'earce, Minister for Defence, said the present defence system was inadequate and unfair, and did not give aii effective foroe. Tho Defence Bill closely followed Lord Kitchener's recommendations. New Zealand had adopted in toto Lord Kitchener's scheme. The Bill would give six years' training and association, and the men would get all the 'benefits of esprit do corps which would make' them most. effective as lighting' units. . . ■ ; A proclamation would be issued in September next, with a view to introducing'the system in January next. The Bill provided for. 100,000 cadets, the first draft of whom would pass into the citizen force in July, 1912. ' The system of the training college would be based on ■ competitive examinations. The entrants would be Selected on'a per> capita basis. It was. anticipated that. New Zealand would cooperate, and that some New Zealand boys would attend the . college. He expected the scheme would be in full operation by 1919 or 1920, when there would be a total fighting force, of 127,000.' -; . \ .'■■■.■■■ ; (The ideal was not. a standing army, but adequate defence. There was in Australia everything to tempt an invasion. ",. ! i. ' The cost of the scheme was a big burden to carry. ' It might be said that the Government was asking more than was necessary, but if it erred on the side of safety it erred on the right side.\ ■ ■~..;■ " ■ i The debate was adjourned.