The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1913. THE DEFENCE ACT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 May 1913, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1913. THE DEFENCE ACT.

The Defence Act of the Dominion of New Zealand suiters more from its many alleged defects than from its few actual defects. Many of its alleged defects are non-existent in fact: they spring from misunderstanding of the actual provisions of the Statute. Y\'e are pleased to give further publicity to a statement prepared by order of the ActingMinister of Defence - the Hon. H. D. Hell—to explain some of the misunderstandings prevalent throughout the dominion with regard to the obligation imposed upon the citizen soldier by the terms of the Defence Act. The points are raised in the form of questions, and answered specifically, as follow : Does provision exist for the Territorial Force to be carried or ordered to go out of New Zealand, under tin defence Acts and its amendments ? No. Section 2'2 of the Defence Act sa\s: '•Any part of the Territorial force shall be liable to serve in any part of New Zealand, but not part of the territorial force shall be carried or ordered to go out of New Zealand."

Can the New Zealand Tenitoria force or part thereof be compelled t< go to the assistance of Great liritain or any of the overseas doinin-

ions or possessions in the event of at. outbreak of war, under the Defence Act? No. Such service must hi purely voluntary as in the case of the New Zealand contingents sent i': iSouth Africa. Does provision exist, in the Defenc Act for calling out the Territorial Koree for service in New Zealand in time of war. Yes. The Governor has power under Section 27 (1). 28

(1). (noted hereunder) of the Defenci Act, 1900. and under the Defence Amendment Act 191' J. Sections Hi and 71 (([noted hereunder) to call out I'm military training and service all eligible males between the ages of 17 and 50. who have resided in New Zealand for a period of six months.

Section 27 and 28 of the Defence Act provides that all the male inhabitants of Now Zealand between the ages of 17 and •")•">, not hereinafter exempted, who have resided in New Zealand for a period of six months, uire liable to be trained and serve in the Militia; and thai intinie of war it sliall be lawful for the Governor (the oeeasion being first comniunicatod to Parliament, if Parliament is then sitting, or notified by I'roelalnation if Parliament is not then .sitting) by Proclamation to call upon persons liable to serve in the militia to enrol in the militia, and thereupon such persons shall, with the time and in the manner prescribed, enrol in tTie militia for tbe prescribed period.

The Defence Amendment Act of 1912 provides that when the Territorial Force or nay part thereof has been called out for active service in Xow Zealand in accordance with the provisions of tin's Act in that behalf. every member of the said force or of that part thereof shall at all times, while he remains under the obligation of active service, be subject to military law as established by the Army Act, save so far as that Act is inconsistent with the principal Act, or any amendment thereof, or with any regulation made tbcrounder. The Governor may by Proclamation call out the Territorial Force or any part thereof for active .service. The Territorial Force, or any part thereof, shall ho liable to be employed on active service in Xew Zealand from the time of the publication of the Proclamation so calling out that force, or that part thereof, until the publication of a Proclamation notifying that the active service of that force, or of that part thereof, is no longer required. No provision exists in the Defence Act for calling out Territorials to assist tho civil police in quelling riots and. otherwise upholding law and order. A good deal of misconception exists as to the number of permanent of-

ficers and non-commissioned officers employed with the citizen forces. The following .statement will 'be of interest in this connection, and will show how small is the proportion of the permanent ataff to those whom they have to train :— Officers (exclusive of ten undergoing training in England or India) ... ... GG 'Son-commissioned officers ... 205 271 Territorial Force ... 23.322 Senior Cadets ... 22,985 Attached to Rifle Clubs ... 4,708 51,015 Tims it will he seen that the proportion of instructors, officers, and non-commissioned officers on the permanent staff works out at only one to each 188 men in citizen training. In the permanent force there are eleven officers (exclusive of three undergoing training in England), and 315 men, making a proportion of oin officer to every twenty-nine men.