THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 30, 10 June 1913, Page 8

THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

THE AUTHORITIES' INTENTIONS. Wellington, Juno 10. The officers from various districts who are carrying out the defence scheme are meeting in conference toiday for the purpose of discussing matters affecting the operation of the scheme in the light of the experience of the past year. Mr Allen (Minister of Defence)'addressed the conference, and told the officers that the Government valued very highly the way in which they had set to work to carry out the scheme The purpose the Government had in view was not alone to create a man who would he able to take up arms to defend his country, hut something more. The authorities wanted to make him a citizen in the fullest and most complete sense of the word. They were trying to utilise the scheme as a means to creating better citizens mentally and morally, and the Minister invited the Church, and those whose special business it was to lead in moral and religious, development, to go to camps. He added that he had gone into the question of musketry training, and bad ordered four solano targets, to, be sent to New Zealand, one for each centre, in order that development in training with miniature rifle ranges might be utilised for musketry instruction.