THE TERRITORIAL SYSTEM.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 10 November 1917, Page 3

THE TERRITORIAL SYSTEM.

After a Hong agitation the Defence Department has boon induced to agree to, and the Government has sanctioned a. relaxation of the Territorial system in. order that military training under it shall not i.ntcrfere too much with industrial requirements in view of the shortage of labour. During the continuance of the war the rules for obtaining exemption from personal /service wil£ therefore be susepended and new rules substituted, to meet the abnormal conditions and reduce the difficulty of obtaining leave to a mimimum.

Tlie new rules state tli a t it is not necessary for a cadet or territorial to have to apply to a magistrate for exemption' in order rM get leave from 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 essenti'ail industry desirous of obtaining leave of absence from personal sorvice on the grounds that undue hardship is caused; by the requirements of such service will apply for such leave of absence in the case of territorials ,to 'oho Adjutant of his unit and for cadet« to the Sergt.Maijor or Area officer concerned. Annual and casual camp, will be spread over a period of some months and that arrangements will be made for the territorial soldier to attend his week's camp at that time which best fV:s in with his civil employment. In case where a territorial in unavoidably abFent from the annual wimp without leave he will be required to forward an explanation for such absence within 48 hours. In cases where no excuse is submitted! or where the excuse in considered unsatisfactory, the matter wil! bo forwarded t-o the Group Command, er concerned, who will decide upon what action will be taken in the mat. ter. Total exemption, from attendance at annual camps will be <ziven in exceptional cases only where the Teiritorial is 19 years of aige. In such cases approval must first be obtained from t'h'e Group Comm a nder concerned.