THE TRAINING OF TERRITORIALS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 86, 6 January 1919, Page 6

THE TRAINING OF TERRITORIALS

VIEWS OF THE MINISTER

A USE FOR THE CAMPS

A ■ statement about possible future changes in the training of, Territorials was made by Sir James Allen yesterday.

"iUy mind is clear on the subject," said the Minister, "butwhether ' the country is prepared' to adopt the proposals is another matter. 1 have said before, and I repeat mow, Ihat' I can conceive no better' method of training our Territorials than- \vc could :,deyise 'by profiting by the experience we have had with the training of. men in our Expeditionary l'orce training camps. This experience proves that if we can get. a man into camp at the age of about 18, when he should be'coming into the Territorials, wo could not only make him a decent soidier, but we could turn out, a civilian much better in health and physique and more useful to the community generally than. he otherwise would have been. 1 am strongly of opinion that Territorial training should begin with three or four months in camp, under thoroughly competent instructors. I think, too. that physical drill should l>e- an especial feature of the training, and that initiative, resource, and general alertness shou'iil bo inculcated by the same methods as we have employed in the training of men for service abroad. There are also lessons to be learned in camp in hy-' giene and cleanliness which are of immense importance to the community generally. And I am sure that the discipline they get in the camps would be good for men in their civil occupations. There is also the very valuable influence that would come from men of all classes of the community associating' in camps, feeling that they are units of the nation preparing to defend the nation if necessary, and to equip themselves as better citizens in civilian life. I believe that this association, of men in camp at the beginning of their lives would break down a great many of the misunderstandings that exist to-day,, and make for a'better respect of man for man

"With, the training of the staff, of officers, and of troops in musketry and other 'brunches, this would mean that one of our camps here would be tccnpied for most of the year. Of course we could not go on bringing up the South Island men here, and wo should have to provide a camp at some suitable place in the South Island." • v

The Minister said that the main.purpost of Tre.ritham camp for the present would be that of a supplementary hospital in case of eventualities. Some hospital accommodation would have to be retained until demobilisation was complete. The Department did not know yet what would have to be provided for. He sincerely honed that, none of the hos-' pital accommodation would be 'needed, but provision would have to be made in case of sickness in the returning drafts of men.