TERRITORIAL TRAINING REGULATIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 57, 30 November 1917, Page 7

TERRITORIAL TRAINING REGULATIONS

MODIFIED ORDERS,

A set of modified training regulations and rules for obtaining leave of absence from camps, parades, etc., has just been issued by Colonel J. E. Hume, Officer Commanding the Wellington Military District.- The modified scheme recently decided upon has been arranged so as to apply in a much greator measure to country areas than to the town areas, the object being to obviate as much as possible the necessity for interfering with essential industries. The Officer Commanding is anxious that employers' associations, etc., shall communicate with District Headquarters, Palmerston North, ou all matters with which they are experiencing any difficulties, or want, of sympathetic cooperation, or with reforeuco to any complaint, and thereby cnsiiro immediate investigation. This will render it unnecessary to communicate with the Minister of Defence or members of Parliament , . Under the new scheme the number of hours' training of Territorials in town areas'is reduced' from 123 to 104 per annum, arid in country areas, fiom 123 hours to 56 hours per annum. Tho Senior Cadets in town areas will require to put in 69 hours' training as formerly, but the musketry course is cut' out. In country areas the number of hours' training for Senior Cadets has been reduced from 69 to 12, and thero will be no musketry course., Officers and n.c.o.'s are to uss the utmost consideration in dealing with employers and members of associations, etc., regarding questions of leave. It is not necessary during the v.ar for any trainee to have to apply to a Magistrate for exemption in order to get leave ironi any parade, or series of parades, for any period, or to get leave from any camp.- A member of the Military Forces, or_ his employer, engaged in an rssential industry, desirous of obtaining leave of absence from personal service on the grounds tLat undue, hardship is caused by the iequirements of such service, will rpply for leave of absence as follows:—(a) Territorial Force in town areas, by applicatiou to the adjutant of the unit concerned; (b) Cadet Force in town areas, by application to the area or group commander concerned. In order to avoid unnecessary delay, power to grant such leave of absence will be given to the above officers and iubarea sergeants-major, without reference to higher authority, in all cases where interference with an essential industry is proved. The greatest care will be taken to ensure that no Cadet or Territorial sl-all be permitted to attend a voluntary camp unless he produces a. certificate from his employer stating that his aervicos can he spared. In cases where Cadete or Territorials are absent from parades or drills without leave of absence, excuse will Be accepted if received within forty-eight hours of such absence. Total exemption from parades must only be granted in extreme cases. Leave of absence from parades or drills will be most sparingly givon to all Territorials of nineteen years of ago who will be subsequently required to serve with the Expeditionary Force. The annual and casual camps are to be spread over a period of some months, and arrangements j will be made for the Territorial soldier to attend his v-eek's camp at that time which best fits in with his civil employment. In cases where a. Territorial is unavoidably absent from the annual camp without leave, he will be required to forward an explanation for such absence within forty-eight hours of the time when ho should have reported k camp.