LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 16 July 1915, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE NATIONAL RESERVE. Sir, —Thoroughly believing in. thofforr r mation of a'National Reserve, I carefully looked through the gazetted Regulations on the subject, and was disappointed at finding tliern not only impractical, but wanting in clear definition, and, to a certain extent, self-contradic-tory. I.tales it that the object of a National' Reserve is to form a third lino of defence, the Territorials and Militia forming tile first and second lines respectively. To cll'cct this, tho formation of a National Reserve, tho first and second lines of defence should not bo touched upon to form the third; this, however, is exactly what would happen under the present Regulations. According to the present Regulations, practically anyone in the Dominion, except naval and marine pensioners under *55 years, and Royal Naval Beservo pensioners, enrolled prior to 1906, under 65 yoars, can join tho National Reserve. As far as I can understand, it appears that thoso liable to bo called out for active servico under the Militia Act, ban join this reserve, with tho_ result that in an emergency overy militia man would be called away from tho third line, of defence (the National Reserve) to take his place in tho second (the Mifitia). The . Regulations lay stress on the fact thatjj when required for s'orvioe, the National Reserve would "be all ready organised as listed bodies instead or being merely a numbor of individuals, hurriedly called together," and show what is meant by "organised" in the statement that tho members are to be enrolled "by platoons, troops, companies, squadrons, batteries, etc.." Let us assume that a platoon or other umt of the National Reserve is formed, intruding, as it undoubtedly would, men liaile for service in one or other of the Mifitia classes, and .that the Militia Act. is put into operation (it is only then that the'National'Reserve can be called lip), what would happen to the platoon or o.ther unit. 1 It' would be stripped oi its best men, and remain a ragged skeleton of itself, requiring reorganisation. It appears to mo that a National Reserve should bo a National Reserve including only- those who, while desiring to serve their country, are not eligible to do bo in the first or second, line on account of ago or other disability. It seems absurd to put men over or under Militia, age! to the same training as those of Militia age, who are necessarily in their prime, and would require differ-ent-training. We must remember that training and drill are and that much more is' required nowadays from the first aiid second line than merely to learn drill and the use qf the rifle, which seems to be all that can reasonably bo looked for from a, National Reserve, or third line of defence. There are many other points in the Regulations that seem to require remark, hut I have already trespassed sufficiently on your 6pace. ■' Perhaps, sir, in the future you will allow mo to refer again to this subject.—l am, etc., , KENT.