DEFENCE FORCES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1801, 14 July 1913, Page 6

DEFENCE FORCES.

RECOMMENDATIONS, BY OFFICERS. Ab an outcome of the conference of Territorial Force officers, held recently in AVellington, the following recommendations have been forwarded to the Hon. Jos. Allen (Minister for Dofence):— Newspaper Correspondents in. Camp — That District Commanding Officers bo instructed to make it their business to get tho editors of newspapers to send their accredited reporters as correspondents year, and to do all they can to afford them facilities in camp. Bands for Senior Cadets.— I These will receivo every encouragement, but it is impossible that any expenso in this direction can be paid by tho country. It is purely a matter for private support. Tho Government will be asked to get instruments on repayment through the Defence Stores. Promotion of Officers.—That no officer be allowed to go up for promotion until ho has completed a year in his present rank, and unless he has fired his courso of musketry, and done his full number of parades, drills, and camp for the year. Transfers of Officers.—That they bo required before transfer to qualify for their rank in the branch to Which they wish to bo transferred in those subjects in Appendix 4, in which they have not already qualified. Parades on King's Birthday.—That parades bo early, short, and compulsory, leave to be given freely to men who genuinely want to go away tho night before; and men who do not get leave and who are absent are to bo proceeded against in tho ordinary way. Inose over an hour's rido away only aro to come voluntarily. Payment of Cooks.—Cooks drawn from the. Territorial Force to have their extra pay increased from Is. to 2s. Gd. per day, in addition to inducements already offered. Sanitary Squads.—Every unit should liave a permanent sanitary squad specially trained in their dutie3. Such sanitary squads, it is stated, add immensely to the hygienic conditions in camp. Cooking Ovens—The Roberts cooking ovens in camp this year wero, generally speaking, very satisfactory. Canteens.—The next year brigade canteens be instituted, not inoro than two in each camp, to be arranged for and run under district arrangements. . Capes for Cadets—That a pattern of capes for cadets be sealed in the Defence Stories, and that these bo provided by the Department, as is done in tho case of boots. > Clothing of Senior Cadet Sergeants — That Senior Cadet sergeants who stay on in tho Senior Cadets after tho ngo of eighteen bo allowe dto .wear Territorial clothing: only a limited number of such sergeants to bo allowed to stay on in tho Senior Cadets, namely, one colour-ser-geant and two sergeants in each oompany. (This proportion has been decided on so that tho promotion of' the Senior Cadets themselves to non-commissioned rank may not be blocked.) The clothing of Senior Cadets to bo in future issued to and distributed by group officers. Badges for Efficiency.-That efficiency badges of all kinds, according to the regulations, lie issued to all Territorials and Senior Cadets. Competitive Examination for Officers.— That these bo postponed this year, till September, and that no ono sit for tho examination until he is eighteen years of ago; recommendations to sit for the examination to I>o niado by tho commanding officer on the performance of tho individual, after ho has served either in tho ranks of tlio Territorial Forces os as a sergeant of Senior Cadets, as an equivalent of Territorial service after the ago of eighteen. Candidates may] sit for a commission in «any area. Posted to Rifle Clubs—That steps bo taken specially to ensure, as far as is pos- ! sible, that men liable to universal ser- , vioo posted to rifle clubs shall be trained I according to tho regulations.