DOMINION DEFENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 10, 8 January 1913, Page 6

DOMINION DEFENCE.

Continuing, General Godley said that the extra four days’ camp was intended for Territorials who had to spend more than one hour in going to parades. The Territorial, he remarked, was taken clear away for at least ten days. It didn’t matter where the camp was hold—it might be held in the Chatham Islands for that matter (laughter). The next Territorial camp would be held at Oringi, so far as the 11th Regiment was concerned. A Wnangamomona Case. Mr J. B. Hine instanced the case of a Territorial at Whangamomona, or rather sixteen miles beyond Whangamomona, who had missed his camp. He asked whether for these boys tlie camp would be taken as the solemeans of training. • General God ley replied that in such a case Mr Hine might take it that it practically was sufficient training. There was, of course, a few drills left over, which these extra days in camp would not cover. The Department was always willing to take such cases as these on their merits. In this case the boy 'Could not easily attend parades, and they might in some cases bo dispensed with, but tlie boy would have to attend the fourteenday camp. Mr Marfell inquired if this concession was extended only to the count! j people, and General Godley replied that he was not at all sure that this was not now a general permission. Captain Dampen stated that applications had been received from 140 Territorials, out of 840 in the Regiment, to attend the extra four days in camp in place of regular drills. Discussing tho formation of rifle clubs in places where there were no. sufficient boys to warrant the sending out of an instructor, General Godley said that he had. always set hi* face very much against losing the services of men from the backhlocks for the Territorial force. His expedience had showed him that these were the best men, and he was right against any system which would not include these men in the training scheme. As instance of tins the General quoted the successes of the Taranaki men at the Christchurch tournament. Mr Hine then proposed a hearty vote of thanks to General Godley, and this was carried amidst applause, the General briefly returning thanks.