THE DEFENCE FORCES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2184, 24 June 1914, Page 8

THE DEFENCE FORCES

—o—.— — CHANGES W PROSPECT GENERAL HAMILTON'S REPORT .Speaking, to a reporter yesterday, the , Hon. Jas. 'Alien (Minister of Dcftmeo) said that lie liopci that certain ef tha jtjcymnicfidiitions, dealing with the ad-iMi-mstra'-t-ivo. part of tho defence system, nr-ade by General Sir lan Hamilton iii his refjortj, wowkl lie carried out _ at anee. This would Hot require legislation. It trottld have -effect of bringing the "administrative and financial portions of' the setteme under the Quarter-master-Uci'ierai. "We hope," said t-ho Stinistor, "to train up meii who a.re- ' specially gifted in the way of administration and finance, and to strengthen li-io Department in that respent, and at tiro same time bring it into elo-ser touch with the Minister, Tho lisxpoctorGenerai has tbcomnieqded exactly frhat, from my' owm experience, 1 tlioitglrt- was ncTCS-sary."' The J!inic-ter added that in regard to nt-ber rec-OBiEiondations the General Ofticer Con-iniafidirg was going ihroiig-h them with the Tertitorial oiticers, and they would bo discussed by the. Permanent Stall- and t-ho ti.N.Z.A. oil Hp-why uid Tuesday next, The result <u" tiiese' de.'ibi'rations would no doabt be sent on to him. Bfttil he got that're-sult-.lie could not say'any thing definite. The In-spector-Gcßeral had. m&elo certain rceommendfttioiis in regA'rci to training which he considered very valuftble, and which went in tho right direction, but they could oilly be adopted i-f it tffts fount! that- they could be pttt into operation without asking from the peoBla more than ought to bo ashcrl in the Way of saerifico of ti.aie. Nfttarally, also, they had to consider tlm financial nspect of the'question, but Ije did not thln.k that was -seriously affected'. by what. General Hamilton had recommendtis!, As to riia'terial, he. stated that tho new mountain cutis for tho D Batter'}' would be out here shortly. Regarding Seniof ; Cadeis in scattered districts, oil iflii-eh tho Xnspietor- ; General: h-ati a g«6d deal to say, the Minister rtelftarlced that if .they s*ero to rely upon Sei-vioT Cadet ttfeiping as. a snbsfiiut-e for recruit . training - tho General's- siigg»stioa vas. s. .so-iind one: ■but it had l , to be worked- nut in detail to see ■wfetlrer 1 it vtiii foa-aftto. 'Die (ie.uerai's recoiii'mfeiKlabionS in recard y Territorial trairtm.g if® -also; lie considered, tliordu.ahly sound, tl:or,i-h tiie.v involved the i-acrifieo of a .'littk mote time in camp, but he believed that- tonii&y corps' would be giliio ready to fall in with the suggestion if it- ! would dft ..aWay. with' drills. Here, again,, it trmi a. niatier of fl'orivinft out the details.