MILITARY TRAINING

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 35

MILITARY TRAINING

DETAILS ANNOUNCED. WELLINGTON, May 29. A general order was issued by Majorgeneral Sinclair-Burgess, General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, to-day, giving details of the new defence scheme under which compulsory military training will be abandoned for voluntary enlistment. The total strength of the <new force will be slightly under 10,000. The following is a summary of the new scheme, which will be brought into force as from June 1, 1931:— 1. The New Zealand Territorial Force will be recruited on a voluntary basis. Apart from this, the general organisation will remain as at present. 2. No change will take place in the cadet units at the secondary schools. . 3. The organisation of the territorial force will be based on the following principles:— (a) The retention of the present divisional organisation; (b) the maintenance of a majority of the territorial units, but on a reduced peace establishment; (c) the retention of a highly-trained cadre of regular soldiers for mobilisation, peace training, and administrative requirements. 4. The system presides for—(a) A centra] training depot at Trentham Camp; (b) the establishment of some 600 officers and 9300 other ranks in the territorial force; (c) the training of some 300 officers and- 16,000 secondary school cadets. 5. The strength of the new force is to be 9982,. made up of 614 officers, 136 warrant officers, 1468 sergeants and corporals, and 7764 other ranks. The total of each unit in each district will be as' follows: —Mounted rifles, 196; artilleryfield batteries, 128; light batteries, 131; medium batteries (horsed), 128;’medium batteries (mechanised), 114; coast batteries, 150; field companies (engineers); 233; infantry battalions, higher establishments, and Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago, 535; infantry battalions, lower establishments, 230; composite companies (A.S.C.), 110;' field ambulances, 100; Otago University Medical Company, 292. 6. Each command will contain the following:—One mounted rifle brigade; one field brigade and other artillery as allotted; one field company New Zealand Engineers; one depot New Zealand Signals; one infantry brigade; one composite company N.Z.A.S.C.; one field ambulance. 7. The age of enlistment will be from 18 to 25 years, while the minimum amount of training which must be carried out by officers or other ranks will be six evening parades, two half-day parades, six days* continuous training in camp, and the prescribed small-arm course. The present system of training in secondary schools will be retained.