TERRITORIAL SYSTEM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1802, 16 March 1918, Page 3

TERRITORIAL SYSTEM.

CHANGE FORESHADOWED BY MINISTER OF DEFENCE.

The possibility of a change in the present Territorial system, which lias already been foreshadowed to some extent, was further mentioned by Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, to an Auckland Star reporter. The Minister stated that any new policy which might be brought into existence after the war was over would have to be discussed by Cabinet, but any man at all observant could see the lines upon which it must develop. It was perfectly plain that with a good staff of instructors, and the kind of material that we had to work on in New Zealand, it was possible to produce fairly well disciplined ami (rained soldiers in anything from three to four months. We were doing it now in four months, hut if the leave to the men were cut oui, as it probably would be under a system of that kind, it might be possible to do it: in three months. The men, of course, could not remdi the fullest extent of their training in this time, but they would a I least be fairly well trained, and I he main part of their work would he done. They would be instructed in hygiene and matters generally appertaining to their health, physical drill, discipline, and the ability to move. This would form a very large portion of the work, and if il could be*’grafted on to the Territorial system lie thought it should be done. We would then get n citizen army which would be in a position to respond to a call whenever it was necessary, and if this training were continued by a week or ten days in camp each year we would always have at hand a body of men who could be turned into a lighting unit al very short notice. Jf the men were taken, say, at eighteen years, and for three months placed in well-established camps with a highly-trained staff of instructors, we would not only produce (lie basis of a well-trained soldier, but a very much more etlicient citizen, and it was important that we should look al il also from the poinl of view of producing efficient citizens. Medical and dental treatment would be provided in the camps, because if we wore desirous of producing an iTlicicnt population avc must make the men as medically and dentally lit as it was possible to make them. In reply to a ipiery as to whether this system (Iml bad been outlined would do away with the weekly drills at night, Ibe Minister slated that undoubtedly il would.