8000 STRONG

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 188, 26 August 1937, Page 7

8000 STRONG

-Press Assooiation.)

Reorganised N.Z, Territorial Force FEWER MOUNTED RIFLES

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. An effectiVe peace-time establishment of 8000 officers and men is aimed at Undor the Government 's scheme for the re-organisation of the territorial forces, according to an announcement made today by tho Minister of Befence (tho Hon. E, Jones) in an interview. The present establishment, which was rcadjnsted in 1931, is just over 12,000 officers and men, though the effective strength of the territorial foteeB undolpresent conditions is about 8000. The reduction in the establishment has meant a redisposition of the'' various units. The new force will be ro-organ-ised as followss: — Eour mounted rifle regiments (three horse and oue motorised). Three infantry battalions. Ten field artillery batteries. Four medium artillery batteries_ Two light batteries. Three field coifipfinies of engineers. Three signal depots. Three Army Service Oorps depots. Three fieid ambulance ufiitSi The coastal defence troops jvill comIprise:-— _ .: Two eoaStal defence batteries, "[ Three infantry battalioiia, ' Two anti-aircraft groupSi ! These units will bo stationed at Wellington and Auckland. Mr Jones explained that the projposed new strength of ' the 'land force " jwas about equal to the effective numjber at present in the territorial fbrces.' "With tho provision of a better system |of training,,, he added, "wa hope that |the defections, which at the present itime are considerable, will be v©ry •much fewer." According to the official record, the iprOsent nUinber and disposition Of the ivarious units are as followS: — Nine mounted rifle regiments (Northern Command three, Central Oommand three, SotlthCrtt Command thrCe). TWelve infantry battalions (N.C. four, 1C.C. four, S.C, four). Ten field artillery batteries (N.C. jfOur, C.C. three, S.C. three). Five medium batteries (N.C. two, C.C. jtWo, S.Cj. one). Two light batteries (N.C. one, S.C. ■one). Three field companies of engineers i.(N.C. one, C.C. one, S.C. one). Three signal depots (N.C. one, C.C. |OUe, S.C, one). Three A.S.C. companies (N.C. onC, ;C.C. one, S.C. one). Thtee field ambulance units (N.C. iOne, C.C. one, S.C. one). TWo coastal batteries (N.C. one, JO.C. ,one)^ Questioned about the colour of tha new dress uniforms it is proposed to issue, the Minister intimated that consideration of this matter had not reached finality. JOne -proposal has been made that' the uniform should be a blue colour," he Said, "but we have yet to decide what is the most suitable.'-"