NO TERRITORIAL CAMPS THIS YEAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 75, 23 December 1918, Page 4

NO TERRITORIAL CAMPS THIS YEAR

COURSES FOR OFFICERS. The Territorial camps ordered for 1919 have been cancelled. This applies to the camp of the Wellington city units, which was to 'have been held at Karori Park commencing on January 31. It will , not be necessary, therefore, for any employers, to apply for exemption on behalf of essential workers. Shortage of available staff ami the shortage of tents are two of the reasons given for this change of plan. Tho supply of tents has been insufficient for some time, and tho Defence Department has, not been able to" replace fully the worn-out tents during the war period. Another factor in inducing the Department to abandon the camps for next year is the shortage of labour. This shortage will continue to be acute for some time, and it would have been necessary ill any case to have granted many exemptions. Thero was a special reason for continuing the annual camps even at some inconvenience during the war period, since the Territorial force was then an important recruiting ground for the Expeditionary Force, but the position in that respect has now changed. Various .training classes for Territorial officers and non-commissioned officers will be held at Trentham camp during the next few months. The courses will be based on war experience and..practice. Members of tho training staffs of the- Expeditionary Force camps aro being retained at Trentham, for this duty and also for possible service in connection with tho returning men during the demobilisation period.' Captain A. W. Brocks, M.C., will have charge of the physical instruction, and Captain P. B. Henderson, M.C., will be the chief ma-chine-gun instructor. The Minister of Defence '(Sir James Allen) stated on' Saturday that he expected that much use w,ould be made of Trentham camp in continuation and extension of the work done there before the war. Probably it. would" be found necessary to keep Trentham camp open • during 'the greater part of the year. There would be Territorial camps, epocial schools of instruction, refresher courses'for officers and n.c.o.'s, musketry classes, rifle club meetings, and so forth.

The Minister stated that no definite plans had been made with regard to staff at Trenthain enmp. Some officers would be required there, but appointments had not been made. The camp was to be used in the immediate future for the reception, if necessary, of any overflow of returned eick' and wounded soldiers. Preparations were being made already for the men who might, have to be taken into hospital at Trentham during the demobilisation period.