Territorial Training System.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 28 September 1917, Page 3

Territorial Training System.

Wellington, September 21.

After reading a letter on the subjeot this afternoon, Mr A. S. Malcolm asked the Minister of Defence whether, "seeing that our Expeditionary Force system of training makes ample provision for the satisfactory training of our forces, and, therefore, does not need supplementing; seeing the serious way in which the Territorial system interferes with industries, especially farming; seeing the great annual cost of the Territorial system, and seeing the number of men absorbed on its staff when men are needed at the front, will the Minister , during the war suspend the Territorial system, or at the very least make those engaged in farming pursuits exempt from its provisions?'' Mr Malcolm also called attention to the reported failure of officers to attend parades. Sir James Allen said that he would, if furnished with particulars have inquiries made regarding the alleged failure of officers to attend parades. He thought it would be a fatal mistake to suspend the Territorial system. He was sure that it was the training received under the Territorial system that bad made the New Zealand Expeditionary Force what it was today. He said that he did not contend that evening parades of Territorial* were satisfactory. He had suggested that these evening parades be done away with, and that one week's training in each year be substituted. Unless the training were kept up it would not be possible to keep up ths ; Territorial Force in the future, nor could we keep up the Expeditionary Force. i Mr Poland: It could ba resumed ■ after the war. Sir James Allen: I venture to say that if you do away with the Territorial Force and with the organisation you will have difficulty in restoring it. Every man engaged in an industry from which he could not easily be spared could get exemption from parades by asking for it."