COMMANDANT RETURNS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1615, 5 December 1912, Page 4

COMMANDANT RETURNS

A SHORT INTERVIEW. Major-General A.' J. Godley, C.8., who returned from Australia, via the south, yesterday, was interviewed by a repre* sentativeof The Dominion. ..■ Asked if any alterations in the New Zealand system were contemplated as a result of what he had seen in Australia, the General stated that ho had seen nothing which would make- it desirable to bring about a change here. The two systems wore very much alike. Under the Australian system the junior cadete did nothing but physical drill. They car. ried this out in plain clothes, no uniforms being issued to them until they were adva».ced,,into,tthe..senior; cadets. What would be the result of a eudden mobilisation of the New Zealand defence force as they stand, to-day? iUrged the in«; terviewer. . '•■■.... General Godley smiled at the question, and then went on to state that the difaculty' would be not ■to get the men but to choose a certain number out of those who would undoubtedly offer for service. All the old volunteers would, no doubt want to "re-join" and considering that 82 per cent, of the men posted had been in camp in peace time it would! not be extravagant to say that 90 per cent, would mobilise. Ninety per cent, of tno men posted would number about, twenty-five thousand ■ exclusive of senior cadets ana rifle clubs. ■ ■ • . ~ , . In view of such a mobilisation, what amount of ammunition is at hand? The General replied that there was, an ample supply of small arms ammunition. In fact, they had a reserve of ammunition practically up to the amount required by the Colonial Defence Committee. Concerning; the point raised by the Dunedin Presbytery regarding Sunday drilling, General Godley stated ttat lie had interviewed the Minister on the subject, and could only say that there would be no drilling of cadets on Sundays and that, w.hen territorials were 'holding week-end parades, most of the work would be done on Saturday afternoon, and tnat arrangements allowing them to attend divine service on Sunday morning lreuia. always be made. , In conclusion, the general mentioned that lie had just come through the South Island and had been well pleased with the progress of the defence scheme there., The territorial camps are toi commence ■Iα February next, and will continue till May.